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THE  FISHERMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 


1^1^ 


He  was  in  the  act  of  bringing  the  weapon  down  on  the  youny 
girl's  head,  when  he  perceived  the  serpent.    (Page  50.) 


THE 


FISHERMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 


BY 


MADAME   VALENTINE   VATTIER. 


TRANSLATED  FROM  THE  FRENCH 


MRS.    MARY    C.    MONROE. 


NEW-YORK  AND  CINCINNATI : 

BENZIGER    BROTHERS, 

Printers  to  the  Holy  Apostolic  Sbk. 
1875. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1875,  by 

BENZIGER  BROTHERS, 
in  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

I.  White  Cottage  and  its  Inmates,    ...  7 

II.    Henrietta's  Friend, 10 

III.  First  Afflictions,       ......  14 

IV.  Consolation, 17 

V.    The  Return, 20 

VI.    Unexpected  Tidings, 23 

VII.   Adventures  of  William  Lebrun,     ...  26 

VIII.   New  Sorrows, 35 

IX.   Two  Departures, 38 

X.   The    Voyage — An     Unexpected     Difficulty,  43 

XI.    The  Sacred  Serpent, 48 

XII.    Henrietta's  Sufferings,          ....  52 

XIII.  The    Melocactus — The    Colonist     and    his 

Family,            58 

XIV.  The  Arrival — William  Lebrun,           .        .  64 
XV.   Villa  of  "  The  Acacias" — The  Overseer  and 

his  Wife, 69 

XVI.   Anxiety    of   Henrietta's    Parents  —  Three 

Letters  at  the  same  time,     ...  75 

XVII.   Ellen  McDougall — An  Unexpected  Meeting,  80 

XVIII.    Henrietta's  Life  AT  "  The  Acacias,"          .  85 

XIX.   The  Journey 95 

XX.    Promotion    of    Celestin  —  Leonie's    Illness,  102 
XXI.   The    Ball  —  Wilkie's    Illness  —  Henrietta's 

Devoted  Nursing, io6 

XXII.   Continuance  of  Yellow  Fever — Archy,  the 

Runaway  Slave 11 5  ^ 

XXIII.  Letter  Written  BY  Henrietta  to  HER  Parents,  123 

XXIV.  A   Morning  Walk— Camp   of  the   Runaway 

Negroes, 130 

XXV.   Mr.    Lebrun's    Illness  —  Sufferings    of    the 

Slaves — The  Insurrection,         .        .        .  140 

XXVI.    Insurrection  of  the  Slaves,          .        .        .  147 

XXVII.    A   Glimpse    of  the   Past— Great   Rejoicing,  156 

XXVIII.   Emancipation  of  Slaves— Sale  of  Property,  i6o_ 

XXIX.    Happiness — Embarking  for  France,        .        .  167 

XXX.   "  Home  Again," 172 

Epilogue 179 


461504 


The  FISHERMAN'S  Daughter. 


CHAPTER   I. 

WHITE  COTTAGE  AND   ITS   INMATES. 

A  SHORT  distance  from  Havre,  and  quite  near  the 
sea-shore,  there  stood,  about  fifteen  years  ago,  a  modest 
but  most  attractive  little  cottage.  A  well-kept  garden 
surrounded  it  on  three  sides,  inclosed  by  a  light  railing 
painted  green,  with  a  small  wicket  opening  on  the  gra- 
veled walk  which  led  through  the  garden  to  the  front  en- 
trance. Bengal  roses  and  clematis,  honeysuckles  and 
convolvulus,  covered  the  cottage,  and  wound  themselves 
fantastically  in  wreaths  and  festoons  around  the  win- 
dows, leaving  nothing  uncovered,  outside  their  undulating 
branches,  save  a  glimpse  here  and  there  of  the  dazzling 
white  walls.  It  was  doubtless  from  these  narrow  facades 
of  white  that  the  cottage  received  the  name  we  have  in- 
scribed at  the  beginning  of  this  chapter,  and  by  which  it 
was  generally  known  throughout  the  country. 

The  inmates  of  White  Cottage  consisted  of  six  per- 
sons :  Anthony  Lebrun,  Margaret  his  wife,  and  their  four 
children,  Henrietta,  Celestin,  Emily,  and  Henry. 


8  THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER. 

Anthony  Lebrun  was  a  man  about  forty  years  of  age. 
By  dint  of  industry  and  economy  he  had  succeeded  in 
amassing  a  small  capital,  and  from  a  simple  sailor  had 
advanced  until  he  was  now  numbered  among  the  mas- 
ters or  owners  of  the  fishing  vessels  of  the  coast.  Until 
this  time,  every  thing  had  prospered  with  him.  His 
wife,  a  good,  amiable,  and  industrious  woman,  worthily 
assisted  him,  by  directing,  with  incomparable  skill  and 
care,  the  domestic  affairs  of  White  Cottage,  a  modest  in- 
heritance she  had  received  from  one  of  her  aunts,  and 
the  value  of  which  she  doubly  appreciated. 

In  his  children,  Anthony  Lebrun  was  no  less  happy. 
Henrietta,  although  only  in  her  thirteenth  year,  had  pro- 
fited by  the  example  and  advice  of  her  mother,  and  fol- 
lowed closely  in  her  footsteps.  Diligent  and  industrious, 
this  young  girl  already  had  a  thorough  appreciation  of 
the  value  of  time,  and  it  was  truly  a  pleasure  to  see  her 
engaged  about  the  household  duties,  washing,  sewing, 
knitting — in  a  word,  doing  every  thing  she  found  possi- 
ble for  her  hands  to  accomplish. 

Celestin,  a  boy  of  twelve  years,  formed  one  of  his  fa- 
ther's crew,  and  manifested  already  the  strongly-develop- 
ed traits  of  a  brave  and  hardy  sailor. 

Emily,  although  but  eight  years  old,  exerted  herself 
to  assist  her  mother  and  sister,  as  far  as  her  age  and 
health,  always  delicate,  would  permit. 

As  to  little  Henry,  he  was  the  Benjamin  of  the  fami- 
ly, and  especially  of  Henrietta,  his  eldest  sister  and  god- 
mother. 

When  Anthony  Lebrun,  after  a  fatiguing  day's  labor, 
took  his  place  at  table,  or  by  the  cottage  fireside,  and, 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  9 

looking  around,  beheld  his  excellent  wife  and  his  belov- 
ed children,  he  fully  realized  the  happiness  of  his  lot 
that  the  "  lines  of  his  life"  had  indeed  been  "  cast  in 
pleasant  places,"  and  in  his  heart  thanked  God  for  the 
sunshine  and  joy  of  the  sweet  and  peaceful  home  that 
surrounded  him. 

One  souvenir  alone  returned  from  time  to  time  to 
disturb  the  quiet  happiness  of  the  fisherman.  Twenty 
years  before,  his  only  brother  embarked  on  a  merchant- 
vessel  that  sailed  from  Havre,  and  was  never  more  heard 
of.  All  inquiries  had  been  in  vain  ;  William  Lebrun 
never  returned  to  France,  and  his  brother  was  obliged,  at 
last,  to  believe  him  dead. 

Gradually,  the  deep  grief  Anthony  had  experienced 
from  the  separation  and  loss  of  his  brother  subsided  into 
a  melancholy  remembrance,  but  was  still  a  constant 
source  of  sadness.  He  taught  his  children  to  love  that 
brother,  who  would  have  been  to  them  so  good  and 
affectionate  an  uncle,  and  often,  particularly  on  Sunday 
evenings,  when  his  family  were  gathered  around  him,  the 
fisherman  would  speak  of  his  brother ;  and  as  if  trying 
to  console  himself  with  the  vague  hope,  would  insist  that 
William,  doubtless,  charmed  by  the  wonders  of  some  dis- 
tant country,  had  temporarily  taken  up  his  abode  there, 
but  sooner  or  later,  he  would  return  to  France  and  his 
own  family. 

"  I  can  not  believe  he  is  dead,"  the  good  fisherman 
would  sadly  continue ;  "  I  have  the  firm  hope  of  some 
day  again  beholding  and  embracing  him." 

Nevertheless,  the  years  rolled  by,  and  no  tidings  of 
William  Lebrun  ever  reached  his  family. 


CHAPTER   II. 


HENRIETTA  S   FRIEND. 


Although  the  garden  surrounding  White  Cottage 
was  by  no  means  an  extensive  one,  yet  Margaret  Lebrun 
and  her  eldest  daughter  attended  it  so  carefully  that  the 
products  raised  far  exceeded  the  requirements  of  the  fa- 
mily. A  portion  of  the  vegetables  and  fruits  was  sent  to 
market  at  Havre,  while  Henrietta  herself  carried  around 
the  most  choice  and  beautiful,  to  supply  a  number  of 
wealthy  families  in  the  neighborhood. 

The  young  girl  conducted  herself  with  so  much  mo- 
desty and  politeness,  and  at  the  same  time  was  so  amia- 
ble and  obliging,  that  she  everywhere  received  a  kind 
welcome,  and  particularly  at  the  mansion  called  "  The 
Elms." 

This  country-seat,  a  magnificent  estate  situated  about 
half  a  league  from  the  sea,  belonged  to  Madame  Hermier, 
a  rich  widow,  who  resided  there  eight  months  of  the 
year,  in  order  that  the  delicate  health  of  her  only  daugh- 
ter, Leonie,  might  be  strengthened  by  the  pure  bracing 
air  of  the  coast  of  Normandy. 

Over-indulged  by  her  mother,  Leonie  abandoned  her- 
self without  restraint  to  every  whim  and  caprice  that 
suggested  itself.     One  day,  about  four  years  previous  to 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  II 

the  time  our  story  commences,  white  walking  on  the  sea- 
shore, she  took  a  sudden  fancy  to  run  on  alone,  for  a 
great  distance.  This  freak  had  nearly  resulted  in  fatal 
consequences ;  for,  regardless  of  the  warnings  of  her 
governess,  the  young  girl  had  approached  very  near  the 
waves,  leaping  heedlessly  over  the  numerous  little  streams 
that  form  the  ocean  at  the  hour  of  ebb-tide. 

Fortunately,  that  day,  Henrietta  was  waiting  on  the 
beach  for  the  arrival  of  her  father's  boat.  Her  warning 
cries  saved  the  young  lady  from  the  danger  into  which 
she  was  running.  The  amiable  and  lovely  face  of  the 
fisherman's  daughter  attracted  her  attention,  and  she  en- 
tered into  conversation  with  her.  When  she  was  inform- 
ed that  Henrietta  often  carried  fruits  to  the  different 
manor-houses,  she  urged  her  not  to  fail  to  present  herself 
very  soon  at  The  Elms. 

"  I  am  perfectly  delighted  with  you,"  she  added,  "  and 
I  want  you  to  become  my  friend." 

Henrietta  excused  herself  on  the  ground  of  that  being 
too  great  a  familiarity. 

"  I  am  not  at  all  proud,"  replied  Leonie,  "  and  mam- 
ma lets  me  do  just  as  I  please.  You  may  be  sure  she 
will  be  glad  to  have  you  come  to  our  house." 

Partly  from  curiosity  and  partly  with  the  hope  of 
finding  a  new  market  for  the  products  of  their  garden, 
Henrietta  made  no  delay,  but  took  an  early  opportunity 
of  making  her  appearance  at  the  residence  of  Madame 
Hermier. 

Leonie  perceived  her  coming,  while  she  was  yet  at  a 
distance,  and  running  to  meet  her,  she  at  once  hurried 
the  young  girl  into  the  presence  of  her  mother. 


12  THE  FISHERMAN  S   DAUGHTER. 

"  Dear  mamma,"  she  cried,  "  here  is  the  little  girl  I 
have  been  telling  you  so  much  about.  I  love  her  dearly 
already.  Now  won't  you  let  her  come  and  see  me  very 
often .?" 

Madame  Hermier  responded  very  graciously  to  this 
demand  ;  but  notwithstanding  her  weakness  for  Leonie, 
she  reserved  the  privilege  of  keeping  a  careful  watch 
over  the  friend  to  whom  her  daughter  wished  to  attach 
herself.  Her  examination  resulted  most  favorably  for 
Henrietta  ;  and  very  soon,  far  from  wishing  to  prevent 
Leonie  from  continuing  the  intercourse,  Madame  Her- 
mier encouraged  the  intimacy  as  far  as  the  different  posi- 
tions of  the  two  young  girls  would  permit. 

Time  did  not  lessen  Leonie's  friendship.  For  four 
years  she  had  not  permitted  a  week  to  pass  without  visit- 
ing White  Cottage,  and  on  every  occasion,  when  her 
friend  carried  something  to  sell  at  The  Elms,  she  found 
an  opportunity  of  having  a  long  conversation  with  her. 

Henrietta  considered  herself  fortunate,  for  many  rea- 
sons, in  having  acquired  the  sympathy  and  affection  of 
this  young  girl.  For  although  she  was  accustomed  to 
having  every  one  accede  to  her  wishes  in  every  thing, 
Leonie  had  a  good  heart ;  and  besides,  she  was  naturally 
kind  and  obliging.  Her  quick  temper  led  her  into  trans- 
ports of  anger,  but  she  soon  recovered  her  amiable  dis- 
position, and  would  then  exert  herself  in  the  most 
charming  manner,  to  make  one  forget  her  faults. 

Having  observed  Henrietta's  fondness  for  reading, 
she  loaned  her  books  ;  at  first,  story-books  and  light  lite- 
rature, then  school-books  and  histories ;  in  this  way,  the 
fisherman's  daughter,  when  her  work  was  finished,  em- 


THE  FISHERMAN  S   DAUGHTER.  1 3 

ployed  an  hour  or  two,  each  evening,  in  useful  reading. 
Her  quick  and  ready  intellect  and  excellent  memory 
seconded  her  great  ambition  to  learn ;  and  she  was  con- 
sequently very  soon  as  far  advanced,  in  many  branches, 
as  her  friend. 

Leonie  rejoiced  at  her  progress,  and  Madame  Her- 
mier  was  no  less  delighted  ;  because  she  perceived  that 
the  good  example,  the  industry,  and  ardent  studiousness 
of  Henrietta  exerted  a  beneficial  influence  upon  her 
daughter,  and  gradually  corrected  the  faults  which  a  too 
indulgent  education  and  training  had  developed  in  her 
character. 


CHAPTER   III. 


FIRST  AFFLICTIONS, 


Until  this  time,  fortune  had  continued  to  smile  on 
Anthony  Lebrun.  But  happiness  is  a  fugitive  thing; 
and  the  iron  hand  of  adversity  at  length  fell  on  the  in- 
mates of  White  Cottage. 

Several  fishing  excursions  proved  disastrous,  not  only 
from  the  scarcity  of  fish  taken,  but  the  still  more  serious 
loss  of  netb  and  sails.  One  day  Anthony's  boat  struck  a 
rock,  and  barely  escaped  being  lost ;  but  the  repairs  made 
necessary  by  this  accident  caused  a  great  breach  in  the 
modest  savings  fund  of  the  family. 

A  contagious  disease  having  desolated  the  country, 
one  after  another,  Anthony,  his  wife,  and  children,  were 
all  attacked  by  the  scourge,  until  the  last  earnings  of  the 
family  were  obliged  to  be  sacrificed. 

Notwithstanding  this  rapid  succession  of  misfortunes, 
the  fisherman  did  not  lose  courage.  His  health  was  soon 
restored  ;  and  with  fine  weather,  a  few  successful  fishing 
excursions  would  accomplish  the  rest. 

Margaret  endeavored  to  encourage  this  hope  in  the 
heart  of  her  husband,  and  Henrietta  followed  her  mo- 
ther's example.     The  young  girl  spoke  cheerfully  of  the 


THE   FISHERMAN  S   DAUGHTER.  I  5 

magnificent  appearance  the  garden  presented,  and  the 
fine  prospect  for  a  future  harvest  of  fruits  and  vegeta- 
bles. She  insisted  that  without  the  least  inconvenience 
they  could  retrench  their  expenses,  and  always  eftded  by 
declaring  that  God  would  never  make  their  burdens  hea- 
vier than  they  were  able  to  bear. 

These  words  of  consolation  animated  her  father's 
courage,  and  made  him  hopeful  and  resigned. 

Celestin,  on  his  part,  exerted  himself  to  become  more 
and  more  useful  every  day.  It  has  been  already  stated 
that  he  was  persevering  and  industrious ;  he  very  soon 
qualified  himself,  notwithstanding  his  tender  years,  to 
take  the  place  of  a  sailor  on  his  father's  boat.  This  sub- 
stitute diminished  the  expenses  very  materially.  In  the 
mean  time,  several  voyages  were  made  successfully  ;  so 
that  prosperity  and  peace  were  once  more  restored  to  the 
White  Cottage. 

One  afternoon,  the  fisherman  informed  his  wife  that 
he  was  going  on  an  expedition,  and  it  would  be  at  least 
four  days  before  he  would  return,  as  his  nets  were  to  be 
spread  at  a  point  some  considerable  distance  from  home. 
Accompanied  by  Celestin,  he  started  the  next  morning 
before  day  :  the  weather  was  fine,  the  sea  smooth  as 
glass ;  and  every  thing  bade  fair  for  a  successful  voyage. 

However,  the  next  day  the  wind  changed ;  and  very 
soon  the  waves  were  beating  furiously  against  the  Nor- 
mandy coasts,  and  a  rumor  was  heard  that  several  fish- 
ing vessels  had  perished. 

The  apprehension  and  distress  with  which  Margaret 
and  her  daughter  received  the  announcement  may  be 
imagined.     With  anxious   hearts   they   inteirogated   all 


1 6  THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER. 

whom  they  thought  might  be  able  to  give  them  some  en- 
couragement ;  but  with  every  response  their  fears  in- 
creased. One  had  seen  Anthony's  boat  far  out  at  sea; 
another  declared  that  in  the  tempest,  which  threatened  to 
continue  for  a  long  time,  very  few  of  the  small  vessels, 
gone  out  two  days  before,  would  be  able  to  enter  port. 
These  unfortunate  predictions  seemed  bound  to  be  rea- 
lized. During  an  entire  week  they  heard  of  the  loss, 
one  after  another,  of  a  great  number  of  fishing  vessels  ; 
among  them,  alas !  was  found  that  of  Anthony  Lebrun. 
One  of  his  crew,  who  by  a  miracle  had  escaped  ship- 
wreck, came  to  White  Cottage,  to  break  the  intelligence 
to  the  unhappy  Margaret,  of  her  double  calamity.  She 
had  lost  her  husband  and  her  oldest  son  ;  and  with  them 
the  boat,  which  annihilated  almost  entirely  the  resources 
of  the  family. 


CHAPTER   IV. 


CONSOLATION. 


The  angel  of  sorrow  brooded  with  darkened  wing 
over  White  Cottage.  In  vain  Henrietta,  with  a  degree  of 
fortitude  far  beyond  her  years,  exerted  herself  to  revive 
the  courage  of  her  mother,  and  arouse  her  from  the  state 
of  despairing  apathy  into  which  she  had  sunk.  With 
eyes  fixed  and  tearless,  noticing  nothing,  nor  uttering  a 
word,  Margaret  Lebrun,  but  for  the  convulsive  sighs  that 
shook  her  frame  from  time  to  time,  might  have  been  tak- 
en for  a  marble  statue  of  grief. 

For  three  days  she  had  known  the  entire  extent  of  the 
calamity  that  had  fallen  upon  her,  and  yet,  during  all 
that  time,  had  never  been  able  to  utter  a  word  or  shed  a 
tear,  that  sad  source  of  relief  for  the  overburdened  and 
despairing  heart. 

During  the  course  of  the  third  day,  Madame  Hermier 
and  Leonie  arrived  at  White  Cottage.  Having  been  ab- 
sent from  home,  it  was  only  on  their  return  that  morn- 
ing, they  had  learned  the  sad  events  that  had  occurred. 
Immediately,  regardless  of  the  fatigue  they  had  experi- 
enced from  traveling,  the  mother  and  daughter,  without 
a  moment's  delay,  hastened  to  offer  the  bereaved  Marga- 


1 8  THE   fisherman's   DAUGHTER. 

ret  and  her  daughter  all  the  consolation  and  sympathy  it 
was  in  human  power  to  bestow. 

On  entering  the  cottage,  Leonie  ran  and  threw  her 
arms  around  the  neck  of  her  friend. 

"  I  have  come  to  mingle  my  tears  with  yours,  my  dear 
Henrietta,"  she  exclaimed.  "  If  the  sincerest  sympathy 
of  true  affection  had  power  to  alleviate  your  sorrow,  be 
assured  that  I  would  take  a  large  share  of  the  burden 
that  has  fallen  upon  you." 

Henrietta  could  only  answer  by  tears  and  sobs,  as 
she  leaned  her  head  on  the  shoulder  of  her  friend. 
Meanwhile  Madame  Hermier  had  taken  poor  Margaret's 
hands  in  both  of  her  own,  and  strove  to  soothe  and  con- 
sole while  she  spoke  of  courage  and  resignation  to  the 
poor  stricken  wife  and  mother ;  but  it  was  all  in  vain. 

"  Alas  !"  she  murmured  at  length,  in  a  tone  of  despair, 
"the  loss  of  my  husband  and  my  first-born  son  has 
crushed  all  hope  and  courage  from  my  heart ;  I  feel  that 
I  shall  not  long  survive  them," 

In  spite  of  all  that  Madame  Hermier  and  Leonie 
could  say  to  dispel  this  impression,  they  were  unable  to 
divert  or  change  the  current  of  Margaret's  thoughts. 
Her  soul  had  been  too  cruelly  torn  and  crushed  to  be 
capable,  for  a  long  time,  of  receiving  consolation. 

Deeply  moved  with  compassion,  Madame  Hermier  was 
scarcely  able  to  restrain  her  tears ;  but  suppressing  her 
feelings  with  a  strong  effort,  and  the  recollection  that  she 
had  come  to  assist  the  poor  woman,  she  immediately 
proceeded  to  make  known  her  intentions.  She  did  this 
with  all  the  delicacy  and  discretion  possible,  in  order  not 
to  wound  the  natural  pride  and  sensitiveness  of  a  person 


THE  FISHERMAN  S   DAUGHTER.  1 9 

who  until  this  time  had  been  sustained  by  and  indebted 
to  her  own  and  her  husband's  exertions  alone,  for  the  ne- 
cessary resources  of  her  family. 

Margaret  listened  to  Madame  Hermier  without  inter- 
rupting her. 

"  Thank  you,"  she  at  last  gasped  forth.  "  I  thank  you. 
As  long  as  I  live,  my  children,  I  hope,  will  want  for  no- 
thing essential ;  but  as  I  have  told  you,  already,  madame, 
my  energies  are  all  crushed,  my  strength  is  exhausted.  I 
shall  not  be  here  long  with  my  family  ;  then,  when  I  shall 
be  no  more,  then  remember  my  poor  orphans,  and  ex- 
tend to  them  the  generous  kindness  you  have  come  to 
offer  their  mother." 

In  vain  Madame  Hermier  insisted;  she  found  it  im- 
possible to  induce  Margaret  to  accept  her  immediate 
assistance. 

*'  The  produce  of  our  garden  will  be  all-sufficient," 
she  persistently  responded.  "  Besides,  I  can  spin  and 
knit ;  we  have  enough ;  how  many  thousands  are  far 
worse  off  than  ourselves  !" 

These  noble  and  disinterested  sentiments  deeply 
affected  Madame  Hermier ;  but  while  she  admired  the 
spirit  of  independence  manifested  by  the  afflicted  Mar- 
garet, she  still  cherished  the  hope  of  being  able  to  do 
something  more  for  her  than  simply  to  offer  consolation 
and  sympathy. 


CHAPTER   V. 


THE   RETURN. 


Meanwhile,  as  night  was  rapidly  approaching,  Leo- 
nie  and  her  mother  prepared  to  depart,  when  suddenly 
the  sound  of  footsteps  and  joyous  voices  was  heard 
without.  At  the  same  instant,  the  door  Avas  thrown 
open,  and  O  joy  inexpressible !  Anthony  and  Celestin 
stood  on  the  threshold  !  After  such  fearful  suffering, 
this  sudden  return  of  happiness  was  too  much  for 
Margaret,  who  fell  fainting  into  the  arms  of  her  husband 
and  her  son. 

For  some  time,  they  were  apprehensive  the  violent 
shock  had  produced  a  fatal  reaction  ;  but  joy  is  a  potent 
medicine :  very  soon  Margaret  began  to  revive,  opened 
her  eyes,  and  rested  her  gaze  on  the  beloved  faces  of 
those  whom  she  had  believed  lost  forever. 

It  was  then  Henrietta's  turn,  and  that  of  her  younger 
brother  and  sister,  to  embrace  their  father  and  Celestin. 
All  were  so  overwhelmed  with  joy,  so  intensely  happy, 
and  Margaret  so  impatient  to  learn  how  her  husband  and 
son  had  been  restored  to  her,  after  having  been  given  up 
for  dead,  that  Madame  Hermier  and  her  daughter,  as  well 
as  the  neighbors  who  had  accompanied  the  two  sailors 


THE   FISHERMAN  S   DAUGHTER.  21 

home,  were  entirely  ignored  or  forgotten.  Henrietta  was 
the  first  to  observe  it,  and  to  remind  her  mother  of  the 
apparent  neglect. 

Margaret  hastened  immediately  to  thank  her  neigh- 
bors for  having  so  kindly  returned  with  Anthony  and 
Celestin ;  and  then,  in  a  few  words,  informed  her  husband 
of  the  generous  assistance  offered  by  Madame  Hermier. 
In  vain  the  latter  endeavored  to  cut  short  their  protesta- 
tions of  gratitude  ;  Margaret  felt  too  deeply  grateful  to 
permit  this  solemn  occasion  to  pass  without  expressing 
her  sentiments. 

When  the  excitement  had  somewhat  subsided,  Antho- 
ny was  called  on  to  give  a  detailed  account  of  his  ship- 
wreck and  adventures. 

"  We  started  out,  as  you  all  know,"  he  said,  "  in  most 
favorable  weather,  which  continued  until  the  next  day  ; 
when  the  tempest  was  suddenly  unchained,  a  fearful 
storm  arose,  and  we  soon  recognized  that  our  loss  was 
inevitable.  In  vain  the  most  superhuman  efforts  were 
exerted ;  every  moment  the  danger  became  more  threat- 
ening. The  fatal  instant  arrived  but  too  soon.  An  im- 
mense wave,  rising  mountain  high,  dashed  upon  and 
foundered  our  vessel.  She  sank  instantly,  and  her  entire 
crew  was  precipitated  into  the  watery  abyss. 

"  When  I  arose  to  the  surface,  I  saw  two  men  at  some 
distance  from  me  trying  to  sustain  themselves  by  clinging 
to  the  wreck  of  the  boat.  One  of  them  I  recognized  as 
Celestin  ;  the  other  was  Pierre,  my  best  sailor.  I  made 
my  way  toward  and  joined  them.  To  describe  what  we 
afterward  suffered  during  those  long  hours  we  were  toss- 
ed about  at  the  mercy  of  the  sea,  would  be  impossible. 


22  THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER. 

At  length,  God,  in  his  mercy,  permitted  an  English  vessel 
to  discover  and  pick  us  up.  The  captain  and  crew  were 
lavish  in  their  kindness  and  attentions.  When  we  arriv- 
ed at  the  Isle  of  Wight,  where  the  vessel  was  bound,  we 
would  at  once  have  sailed  for  Havre  ;  but  fatigue  and 
excitement  had  thrown  Celestin  into  a  high  fever,  which 
only  left  him  yesterday  afternoon.  This  morning  we 
started,  and  on  arriving,  heard  the  report  that  had  been 
circulated  of  our  death.  Unhappily,  the  disaster  has, 
after  all,  been  but  too  correctly  reported ;  for  out  of  six 
sailors,  Pierre  and  the  one  who  before  arrived  here  have 
alone  been  able  to  escape  with  us.  May  God  rest  the 
souls  of  our  poor  brave  companions  !" 

Saying  this,  Anthony  fell  on  his  knees;  every  one 
followed  his  example,  and  a  fervent  prayer  was  repeated, 
in  which  all  joined  from  the  depths  of  their  hearts.  This 
duty  accomplished,  they  then  offered  up  a  prayer  of 
thanksgiving  and  gratitude  for  the  unhoped-for  return  of 
Anthony  and  his  son  :  the  neighbors  then  took  their 
leave,  and  in  a  few  minutes  no  other  strangers  remained 
at  White  Cottage,  except  Madame  Heimier  and  her 
daughter. 

"  We  will  talk  of  our  business  affairs  hereafter,"  said 
the  former ;  "  now  we  will  go,  and  leave  you  alone  to  en- 
joy your  happiness.  To-morrow  we  will  come  over  and 
see  you  again." 

And  escaping  hurriedly  from  the  renewed  torrent  of 
acknowledgments  with  which  the  whole  Lebrun  family 
would  have  overwhelmed  them,  she  entered  her  carriage 
with  Leonie,  and  drove  rapidly  back  to  The  Elms. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


UNEXPECTED   TIDINGS. 


The  next  day,  it  was  necessary  for  Anthony  to  con- 
sider what  means  could  be  best  devised  for  escaping  the 
miseries  entailed  by  the  loss  of  his  boat.  That  loss  was 
evidently  very  great.  "  But,  remember,"  explained  Mar- 
garet, in  the  midst  of  a  discussion  concerning  their  diffi- 
culties, "  remember,  we  have  every  thing  to  console  us, 
since  your  life  has  been  spared,  and  you  are  again  re- 
stored to  your  family.  We  are  indeed  but  too  happy; 
we  have  only  now  to  work  a  little  harder,  and  all  will 
be  well." 

Anthony  concluded  that  he  and  Celestin  would  go  to 
Havre  on  the  following  day,  and  endeavor  to  find  some 
owner  of  a  fishing-boat,  who  would  engage  their  services. 
Margaret  strongly  advised  them  to  no  longer  follow  the 
dangerous  occupation  of  fishermen,  but  choose  some 
other  calling ;  but  it  was  too  late  to  change  their  voca- 
tion. Even  Celestin,  young  as  he  was,  already  loved  the 
sea  too  much  to  renounce  it.  But  a  few  hours  had  pass- 
ed since  he  had  barely  escaped  being  the  victim  of  a 
terrible  catastrophe,  and  yet  he  was  already  impatient 
to  brave  new  dangers. 


24  THE  FISHERMAN  S   DAUGHTER. 

All  sailors  are  alike  in  this  respect.  Habituated  to 
the  constant  change  of  scene  and  continued  excitement 
attending  their  perilous  voyages,  they  become  restless 
and  miserable,  when  detained  for  any  length  of  time  on 
land  ;  and  age,  with  its  infirmities,  can  alone  induce 
them  to  abandon  at  last  their  adventurous  calling. 

Madame  Hermier,  faithful  to  her  promise,  returned 
next  day  to  confer  with  the  Lebrun  family. 

"  I  shall  offer  you  nothing  gratuitously,"  she  said, 
when  Margaret  had  informed  her  of  her  husband's  inten- 
tion. "  I  know  that  you  would  refuse  it ;  but  for  the 
sake  of  your  children,  I  think  you  might  accept  at  least 
a  sufficient  sum  for  Anthony  to  buy  an  interest  in  some 
fishing  vessel.  You  can  return  the  money  when  you  are 
able.  In  this  way,  the  loss  you  have  experiencd  will  not 
weigh  so  heavily  on  you." 

"  We  thank  you  with  all  our  hearts,  and  we  are  indeed 
most  truly  grateful,  my  dear  madame,"  said  Anthony; 
"  but  I  must  still  refuse  your  kind  offer  ;  and  for  this  rea- 
son, the  sea  is  so  capricious.  To-day  we  may  gain  a 
great  deal — to-morrow,  we  lose  all  we  have  gained.  You 
would  run  the  risk  of  waiting  too  long  before  we  should 
be  able  to  pay  this  debt." 

"  You  need  not  be  uneasy  on  that  account,"  replied 
Madame  Hermier.  "  I  repeat  it  again,  that  you  can  pay 
me  whenever  you  are  able.  Am  I  not  fully  aware  of 
your  industry  and  capacity  ?  I  have  not  forgotten  that  it 
was  by  your  own  labor  and  economy  that  you  were  ena- 
bled to  buy  a  vessel  in  the  beginning.  Have  no  scruples 
then,  and  hesitate  no  longer  about  accepting  the  small 
service  that  I  shall  be  so  happy  to  render  you." 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  2$ 

How  could  such  gracious  benevolence  be  resisted? 
Anthony  and  his  wife  at  length  submitted  to  the  argu- 
ments and  persuasions  of  Madame  Hermier,  and  accept- 
ed the  "loan,  which  was  indeed  an  unexpected  relief  for 
them,  a  succor  that  had  changed  the  most  painful  feature 
in  their  position,  by  permitting  Anthony  not  only  to  es- 
cape returning  to  the  sea  as  a  simple  sailor,  after  having 
been  master  of  a  vessel,  but  also  to  aspire  to  a  more  ex- 
tensive business  than  before. 

All  this  being  arranged,  Margaret  insisted  that  Ma- 
dame Hermier  and  Leonie  should  honor  them  by  taking 
breakfast  with  the  family.  The  invitation  was  accepted, 
and  the  richest  milk,  the  most  exquisite  fruits,  and  fresh- 
est golden  butter  the  cottage  could  produce,  were  spread 
on  the  snow-white  cloth  that  covered  their  humble  board. 

But  good  fortune  seldom  comes  unattended.  While 
they  were  at  breakfast,  conversing  hopefully  of  the  future, 
the  postman  entered,  bringing  a  voluminous  letter.  The 
superscription  was  in  a  hand  that  seemed  not  altogether 
unknown  to  Anthony ;  and  yet  he  could  not  positively 
recognize  it.  But  on  reading  the  words,  "  My  dear  Bro- 
ther !"  he  could  not  credit  his  own  senses,  there  must  be 
some  mistake,  and  all  bewildered  he  sought  the  signa- 
ture. Then  his  eyes  gushed  with  tears,  and  his  voice 
trembled  as  he  read  the  name,  "William  Lebrun."  A 
cry  of  joy  escaped  his  lips.  "  From  my  brother !"  he  ex- 
claimed. "  My  brother  still  lives !  My  God,  I  thank 
Thee  for  this  happiness!" 


CHAPTER    VIT. 

ADVENTURES  OF  WILLIAM  LEBRUN. 

Every  one  partook  of  the  joy  and  astonishment  of 
Anthony,  and  urged  him  to  read  the  letter  aloud,  which 
he  immediately  proceeded  to  do.     It  ran  thus  : 

"  My  Dear  Brother  :  You  have  doubtless  for  long 
years  believed  me  dead.  Twenty  years  have  passed 
since  we  parted,  and  adventures  and  events  have  with  me 
succeeded  each  other  so  rapidly  that  you  must  pardon 
me  for  having  delayed  writing  to  you  until  this  late  hour. 
How  often  I  have  thought  of  you,  my  dear  brother  I 
And  now,  I  indulge  in  the  hope  of  enjoying  but  one  hap- 
piness on  earth — that  of  beholding  your  face  once  more, 
and  meeting  your  wife  and  children  ! 

*'  And  now,  let  me  tell  you  by  what  a  succession  of 
curious  events  I  have  been  brought  to  America,  and  be- 
come a  rich  Southern  planter.  Twenty  years  ago,  when 
I  embarked  on  the  *  Alcyon,'  I  had,  as  you  know,  a  great 
fancy  for  long  voyages.  I  felt  that  I  could  never  be  sa- 
tisfied or  happy,  until  I  had  traveled  around  the  world, 
and  seen  something  of  new  and  unknown  countries  ;  and 
I  was  resolved  to  seize  the  first  opportunity  favorable  for 


THE  fisherman's   DAUGHTER.  2*J 

realizing  my  projects.  The  desired  occasion  soon  pre- 
sented itself. 

"  The  vessel  on  which  I  had  sailed  foundered  at  sea, 
off  the  coast  of  Normandy.  I,  with  great  difficulty,  es- 
caped death,  and  was  taken  up  by  a  merchant-vessel,  on 
board  of  which  I  met  an  Australian  trader  and  merchant, 
who  seemed  to  fancy  me,  and  proposed  I  should  engage 
in  his  service,  in  the  capacity  of  clerk.  I  would  proba- 
bly have  refused  this  offer,  had  he  not  added  that  every 
year  he  made  a  long  voyage,  to  purchase  supplies  and 
attend  to  other  business,  and  would  be  glad  to  take  me 
with  him. 

"  I  accepted  his  proposition,  and  never  had  cause  to 
regret  it.  Mr.  Simpson  was  the  name  of  this  merchant ; 
he  was  one  of  the  best  and  most  honorable  of  men,  and  I 
shall  ever  retain  for  him  the  most  affectionate  and  grate- 
ful remembrances.     In  his  employ  I  passed  five  yeais. 

"  Every  spring,  as  he  had  told  me,  we  traveled  to  the 
most  distant  portions  of  the  island,  and  also  visited  the 
United  States,  in  order  to  become  acquainted  with  the 
principal  fishermen  and  hunters  who  would  then  reserve 
for  Mr.  Simpson  the  choicest  products  of  their  labors.  I 
accumulated  a  considerable  amount  on  these  trading  ex- 
peditions, as  my  employer,  being  a  true  friend,  gave  me  a 
large  share  in  the  profits,  in  order  that  I  might  feel  inte- 
rested, and  exert  myself  to  be  useful  to  him. 

"  I  had  been  in  this  situation  five  years,  when,  in 
consequence  of  the  dishonesty  of  one  of  his  agents,  Mr. 
Simpson  was  called  to  New- York  to  look  after  his  inte- 
rests. I  was  again  his  companion.  While  in  that  city,  I 
heard  them  speak  of  the  '  Trappers.*     Now  these  trap- 


28  THE   fisherman's   DAUGHTER. 

pers  are  men  who  are  not  afraid  to  force  their  way  into 
the  unexplored  regions  of  North-America,  in  quest  of 
animals  whose  furs  are  valuable,  and  engage  in  traffic 
with  the  different  tribes  of  Indians. 

"  Hearing  some  of  these  hunters  relate  their  adven- 
tures, I  was  completely  carried  away.  They  vainly  re- 
presented the  dangers  to  be  encountered,  the  cruel  death 
reserved  for  them  by  the  savages,  when  they  were  so  un- 
fortunate as  to  be  captured,  the  horrible  privations 
they  had  to  endure,  etc.  Nothing  could  deter  me  or 
change  the  resolution  I  had  made  to  join  them ;  my  de- 
termination was  irrevocable.  I  informed  Mr.  Simpson 
of  my  wish  to  become  a  trapper.  He  endeavored  to  re- 
monstrate, but  I  would  listen  to  nothing,  and  ended  the 
conversation  by  saying  that,  amid  all  the  dangers  of  my 
new  career,  I  would  never  forget  the  kindness  I  had  re- 
ceived from  him. 

"  Seeing  that  he  could  not  succeed  in  altering  my  de- 
termination, that  excellent  man  resolved  at  least  to  give 
me  a  token  of  his  friendship  and  good-will.  He  counted 
me  out  a  sum  much  greater  than  the  amount  of  my  five 
years'  savings  (which  I  had  left  in  Australia) ;  then  em- 
brracing  me  as  though  I  had  been  his  own  son,  he  gave 
me  the  kindest  advice,  and  finished,  by  assuring  me,  if  I 
ever  stood  in  need  of  assistance,  I  would  find  him  ready 
to  do  all  in  his  power  to  aid  me. 

"  Two  days  after,  I  left  New-York  with  a  band  of 
trappers,  and  set  out  upon  a  long  expedition.  I  will  not 
detain  you,  my  dear  Anthony,  with  particulars  of  all  I 
had  to  suffer  during  that  campaign,  and  how  I  cursed  the 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  29 

spirit  of  reckless  adventure  that  had  induced  me  to  un- 
dertake it.  I  will  simply  state  that  by  dint  of  persever- 
ance I  amassed  a  small  fortune,  and  six  years  after  my 
coup-de-tete,  I  arrived  at  New-Orleans,  with  the  determi- 
nation of  embarking  for  France.  But*  a  singular  inci- 
dent detained  me  in  America,  which  I  will  now  relate. 

"  One  night,  while  passing  through  an  unfrequented 
street,  I  was  attracted  by  cries,  seeming  to  proceed  from 
quite  a  handsome  residence  near  by.  I  rushed  toward 
the  door,  but  found  it  strongly  fastened.  I  vainly  en- 
deavored to  force  it  open,  at  the  same  time  calling  loud- 
ly for  help ;  when  I  perceived  a  window  on  the  first 
story,  the  shutters  of  which  had  been  negligently  left 
open.  I  at  once  climbed  into  it,  and  found  myself  in  a 
large  hall,  at  the  extremity  of  which  a  faint  light  gleamed 
through  a  half-open  door.  The  cries  I  had  at  first  heard 
continued,  but  grew  more  and  more  feeble.  Making  my 
way  through  a  quantity  of  different  kinds  of  furniture 
that  filled  the  hall,  I  at  last  reached  the  back-door;  I 
pushed  it  open,  and  a  frightful  spectacle  met  my  view. 

A  man  of  gigantic  stature  had  thrown  to  the  ground, 
and  was  holding  down,  with  his  knee  on  his  breast,  an- 
other man,  old  and  feeble,  upon  whose  head  he  was 
dealing  violent  blows,  and  inflicting  wounds  from  which 
the  blood  ran  in  streams.  On  perceiving  me,  he  rushed 
on  me  with  poniard  in  hand  ;  but  fortunately  I  had  a  pis- 
tol ;  I  fired,  and  the  assassin,  wounded  in  the  breast,  fell 
near  his  victim.  At  this  moment,  the  house  filled  with 
people,  neighbors  attracted  by  my  cries  before  entering 
the  window.     With  their  aid,  the  assassin  was  securely 


30  THE  FISHERMAN  S   DAUGHTER. 

bound,  and  the  old  man  conducted  to  his  bed,  received 
all  the  attention  his  condition  required.  After  some 
time,  he  revived  sufficiently  to  explain  that  the  man  who 
had  so  basely  attacked  him  was  one  of  his  former  over- 
seers. Furious  .at  losing  his  situation,  this  man  had 
sworn  to  be  revenged,  and  knowing  that  his  old  master 
intended  to  spend  a  week  or  two  at  his  residence  in  the 
city,  he  had  selected  that  time  as  being  most  favorable  for 
the  execution  of  his  murderous  purpose. 

"  A  fortnight  after,  and  the  assassin,  who  had  not 
died  of  his  wounds,  was  condemned  to  the  State  prison 
for  life. 

"  Mr.  Richards,  the  old  gentleman  whose  life  I  had 
saved,  was  a  wealthy  planter.  He  soon  recovered  from 
his  wounds,  and  insisted  that  I  should,  by  all  means,  re- 
turn with  him  to  his  plantation,  on  the  borders  of  Lake 
Ponchartrain.  I  consented  to  accompany  him  on  a 
visit.  His  residence  was  indeed  magnificent,  and  situat- 
ed in  a  country  of  ravishing  beauty.  There  was  but  one 
source  of  annoyance  to  me  in  this  charming  abode  of 
luxury  and  wealth ;  and  that  was  to  see  the  miserable 
slaves  driven  around  like  cattle,  by  the  lash  and  cudgel 
of  an  inhuman  overseer.  Mr.  Richards  listened  kindly 
to  my  opinions  and  remonstrances  on  this  subject,  for  he 
was  truly  a  good  man ;  and  very  soon  proposed  that  I 
should  myself  assume  the  management  of  his  estate.  I 
accepted  the  proposition  of  my  patron,  who  treated  me 
more  like  a  friend  than  a  master,  and  seemed  highly 
pleased  with  the  manner  in  which  I  accomplished  the 
duties  of  my  position.     But  alas  !  in  less  than  two  years 


THE  FISHERMAN  S  DAUGHTER.  3 1 

after  I  had  met  him,  we  were  separated  by  death ;  he  died, 
leaving  me,  in  his  will,  a  considerable  legacy,  as  a  testi- 
monial, he  said,  of  his  gratitude  for  the  services  I  had 
rendered  him. 

"  Mr.  Richards,  being  a  widower,  without  children, 
his  property  reverted  to  his  distant  relatives,  who,  not 
being  able  to  agree  upon  a  division,  the  estate  was 
brought  to  sale. 

"  My  legacy,  together  with  the  sum  I  had  acquired  as 
a  trapper,  amounted  to  a  considerable  fortune,  and  the 
idea  occurred  to  me,  of  becoming,  in  my  turn,  a  planter. 
Accordingly  I  bought  the  plantation  on  Lake  Ponchar- 
train. 

"  Here,  for  eight  years  now,  I  have  been  proprietor ; 
during  that  time,  my  fortune  has  greatly  increased ;  I 
am  rich,  even  very  rich  ;  and  I  require  nothing  but  a 
family  to  complete  my  happiness.  I  am  scarcely  forty- 
five  ;  but  the  hardships  and  exposure  suffered  during  my 
hunting  expeditions  in  North-America  have  made  me 
prematurely  old.  I  would  like  very  much  to  return  to 
France,  my  dear  native  country  of  Havre,  and  embrace 
you  all  once  more.  But  unfortunately  I  could  not  do 
this  without  compromising  very  seriously  my  interests 
here,  and  as  those  interests,  dear  Anthony,  are  identical 
with  those  of  your  family,  I  must  guard  them  very  care- 
fully. 

"  However,  I  can  not  remain  here  any  longer  alone, 
and  I  have  now  this  request  to  make  of  you.  I  have 
asked  a  friend  from  New-Orleans  to  inquire  about  you, 
and  from  him  I  learn  that  you  are  married,  and  have 


32  THE   FISHERMAN  S   DAUGHTER. 

four  children,  the  eldest  of  whom  is  an  interesting  girl  of 
about  twelve  or  thirteen  years.  Now,  the  request  I  have 
to  make  of  you,  dear  brother,  is,  that  you  will  send  my 
niece  out  to  me.  She  will  be  perfectly  happy  here,  be- 
lieve me  ;  the  superintendent's  wife,  whom  I  have  in- 
trusted with  the  direction  of  my  household  affairs,  is  in 
every  respect  a  competent  person,  and  would  take  the 
place  of  a  devoted  mother  toward  your  child. 

**  It  consoles  me  greatly,  my  dear  brother,  to  think 
that  you  will  not  oppose  this  arrangement,  on  which  I 
have  built  my  dearest  hopes.  I  want  to  make  my  niece 
a  wealthy  heiress  ;  but  I  also  desire  to  have  her  company 
for  my  own  benefit.  Her  society  will  indeed  be  most 
consoling  to  me,  now  that  the  infirmities  of  age  are  be- 
ginning to  weigh  upon  me.  Do  not  refuse  me  this  hap- 
piness, Anthony.  Consider  how  the  sacrifice  I  demand 
will  contribute  to  the  good  of  your  family  in  the  end. 
Besides,  I  do  not  believe  I  shall  live  very  long ;  a  few 
years  will  quickly  pass  away,  and  then  your  daughter 
will  return  to  you,  and  you  will  welcome  her  with  re- 
newed joy. 

"  I  beg  you  to  remember  me  affectionately  to  my  sis- 
ter your  good  wife,  and  all  your  children,  whom  I  would 
so  much  like  to  see.  As  for  you,  my  dear  brother,  be- 
lieve me  I  love  you  as  dearly  as  when,  in  the  beautiful 
days  of  our  childhood,  we  played  together  around  our 
mother's  knee, 

"And  now,  adieu,  dear  Anthony.  I  fear  we  shall 
never  meet  again  on  earth ;  because,  as  I  have  said,  I 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  33 

am  already  a  very  old  man  ;  but  until  the  last  moment 

of  my  life,  believe  me  I  shall  ever  remain, 

"  Your  devoted  brother, 

"William  Lebrun." 
"Lake  Ponchartrain, 

Villa  of  the  Acacias." 

There  was  a  note  inclosed  in  the  letter,  containing 
these  lines : 

"  I  have  ascertained,  dear  Anthony,  that  by  your  in- 
dustry you  have  acquired  a  competence  ;  and  I  am  hap- 
py to  hear  it :  but  in  spite  of  the  pride  which  I  know  you 
possess,  you  will,  I  hope,  not  feel  offended  that  I  have 
spoken  of  your  pecuniary  affairs  ?  Consider,  my  brother, 
that  the  occupation  of  a  sailor  is  a  very  precarious  one, 
and  that  you  have  to  provide  for  the  wants  of  your  chil- 
dren. Let  me  renew,  then,  my  request  that  you  send 
your  oldest  daughter  to  me,  and  permit  me  to  offer  you, 
for  her  sister  and  brothers,  and  your  wife,  the  little  gift 
here  inclosed. 

"  By  this  same  mail,  I  have  written  to  Mr.  Bertin,  of 
Havre,  the  business  agent  of  one  of  my  friends,  to  hand 
you  two  thousand  francs,  as  passage-money  for  my  niece, 
and  to  furnish  her  with  the  trousseau  she  will  require. 

"W.  L." 

The  "  small  present,"  spoken  of  by  the  planter  in  his 
letter,  was  a  draft  for  ten  thousand  francs,  deposited  with 
Mr.  Bertin. 

We  will  not  repeat  all  the  reflections  to  which  this 
narrative  of  Mr.  William  Lebrun 's  adventures  gave  rise, 


34  THE  fisherman's  daughter. 

nor  the  astonishment  caused  by  his  requesting  Henrietta 
to  be  sent  to  him. 

Anthony  was  deeply  affected  by  his  brother's  letter ; 
he  was  most  happy  to  know  that  he  still  lived,  and  that 
fortune  had  favored  him ;  but,  while  grateful  for  the  be- 
nefits William  wished  to  bestow  on  him,  he  could  not,  at 
the  same  time,  tolerate  the  idea  of  being  separated  from 
his  daughter, 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


NEW  SORROWS. 


His  brother's  donation  placed  Anthony  Lebnin  in  a 
condition  to  re-establish  himself  far  beyond  his  most 
sanguine  expectations,  and  at  the  same  time  relieved  him 
from  the  disagreeable  necessity  of  borrowing.  It  is  true, 
Madame  Hermier  was  no  ordinary  creditor;  but  not  to 
be  compelled  to  borrow  any  sum,  however  insignificant  it 
might  be,  was  a  positive  relief  to  Anthony  Lebrun.  He 
felt  no  less  grateful  to  Madame  Hermier,  for  her  gene- 
rous offer,  however,  and  the  friendship  between  the  two 
families  became  as  intimate  as  possible,  under  the  cir- 
cumstances of  their  respective  positions. 

Thus,  their  usual  quiet  contentment  and  happiness 
was  again  restored  to  the  inmates  of  White  Cottage.  A 
handsome  new  boat  replaced  the  one  lost  in  the  storm. 
An  extensive  piece  of  ground,  contiguous  to  the  garden, 
was  bought,  and  promised  to  become  very  productive. 
These  acquisitions  not  having  exhausted  the  money  sent 
by  his  brother,  the  remainder  was,  by  Madame  Hermier's 
advice,  advantageously  invested,  to  serve  as  a  resource 
in  case  of  any  unforeseen  accident  or  necessity. 

A  very  affectionate  and  grateful  letter  was  dispatch- 


36  THE  fisherman's  daughter. 

ed  to  the  planter,  declining  his  urgent  proposal  to  Hen- 
rietta, but  at  the  same  time  imploring  him  to  leave  Ame- 
rica, and  return  to  reside  with  his  own  family  in  France. 

Although  she  loved  her  parents  most  tenderly,  Hen- 
rietta could  not  avoid  sometimes  thinking  of  the  delight- 
ful journey  she  would  have  had,  in  going  out  to  her  uncle, 
and  her  vivid  imagination  represented  the  voyage  and 
countries  she  might  have  visited  in  such  glowing  colors 
that  she  was  frequently  astonished  at  finding  herself  re- 
gretting her  father's  decision. 

To  divert  her  mind  from  dwelling  on  these  regrets, 
she  begged  Leonie  to  loan  her  some  voyages  of  discovery, 
and  these  books,  especially  those  treating  of  that  portion 
of  America  in  which  her  uncle  William  Lebrun  lived, 
became  her  favorite  studies,  though  many  times  even  the 
descriptions  she  read  made  her  sigh  ! 

Nearly  a  year  had  passed  in  this  manner.  Winter 
had  come,  and  with  it  a  number  of  violent  storms  had 
desolated  the  coast  of  the  channel.  These  inauspicious 
visitations  continued  to  succeed  each  other  without  in- 
termission. Among  the  population  of  the  coast  the  de- 
solation and  destruction  were  without  a  parallel.  Tiiere 
was  not  a  family  but  had  lost  either  some  of  its  members, 
or  the  greater  part  of  its  resources  ;  and  upon  many  of 
them  both  these  misfortunes  had  fallen  at  the  same  time. 
Up  to  this  period,  Anthony  Lebrun  had  experienced  no 
new  disasters  ;  but  very  soon  he  was  taken  with  a  violent 
attack  of  acute  rheumatism,  that  confined  him  for  months 
entirely  to  the  house.  He  was  compelled  to  consign  his 
boat  to  one  of  his  friends,  whom  he  considered  reliable ; 
but  a  month  had  scarcely  passed,  after  the  change  of 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  37 

commanders,  before  the  vessel,  badly  managed  during  a 
storm,  was  dashed  to  pieces  on  the  rocks.  More  than  half 
the  crew  perished;  but  fortunately,  his  son,  Celestin,  be- 
ing slightly  indisposed,  had  not  gone  out  on  this  voyage. 

He  could  not  for  a  moment  think  of  buying  another 
boat ;  without  this  loss,  Anthony  would  have  scarcely 
been  able  to  meet  his  requirements,  and  it  proved  but 
the  prelude  to  a  succession  of  misfortunes  that  were 
about  to  befall  him.  His  wife  became,  and  for  a  long 
time  continued,  violently  ill ;  he  himself  required  con- 
stant nursing ;  and  after  all  his  expenses  and  indebted- 
ness had  been  settled,  not  only  the  money  placed  at  in- 
terest was  absorbed,  but  he  was  compelled  besides  to  bor- 
row, giving  a  mortgage  on  the  little  property  of  the 
White  Cottage  for  the  amount. 

Anthony  vainly  endeavored  to  struggle  against  these 
misfortunes ;  vainly  endeavored  to  return  to  the  sea  as  a 
common  sailor ;  his  limbs,  tortured  by  rheumatism,  con- 
tinued to  prevent  all  such  exertions,  and  very  soon  his 
situation  became  so  desperate,  he  was  driven  to  the  con- 
sideration of  selling  his  beautiful  White  Cottage  home. 

At  the  bare  idea  of  such  a  necessity  being  imminent, 
the  entire  family  were  plunged  in  tears. 


461504 


CHAPTER    IX. 

TWO    DEPARTURES. 

One  evening,  after  a  more  unprofitable  day's  work 
than  usual,  Celestin  could  no  longer  conceal  his  dissatis- 
faction, and  summoning  all  the  courage  of  which  he  was 
master,  ventured  to  ask  permission  of  his  parents  to  en- 
gage on  board  a  merchant-vessel. 

"  I  am  now  almost  thirteen  years  old,"  he  argued ; 
"  I  am  a  large  boy,  stout  and  hardy ;  I  understand  my 
business,  and  I  am  not  afraid  to  work ;  let  me  then  en- 
gage in  trade.  Just  now,  the  three-mast  ship  '  L'  Espe- 
rance,'  belonging  to  Mr.  Bertin,  brother  of  the  banker,  is 
about  starting  on  a  long  voyage  to  China  and  Japan.  I 
have  been  speaking  to  Mr.  Bertin,  and  I  feel  almost  sure 
he  will  give  me  a  good  position,  because  I  am  accustom- 
ed to  the  sea.  In  this  way,  at  least,  I  can  assist  you,  by 
sending  you  my  wages." 

Margaret  Lebrun  burst  into  tears  on  hearing  this  ge- 
nerous proposal.  *' No,  no  .'"she  replied,  "  I  can  never 
consent  to  be  separated  from  you,  my  dear  child,  on  a 
voyage  so  long  and  uncertain." 

"  But  consider,  dear  mother,"  replied  Celestin  "  that 
sooner  or  later  it  must  come  to  this.     Here,  now,  my  fa- 


THE   fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  39 

ther's  boat  is  lost  again,  and  I  have  no  chance  of  doing 
any  thing  at  all,  while  if  I  go  on  a  long  voyage  like  this,  I 
can  be  of  very  great  assistance  to  you." 

"Celestin  is  right,"  interrupted  his  father.  "I  must 
say  I  approve  of  his  plan  entirely,  not  because  of  the  ad- 
vantage it  will  be  to  us,  but  for  the  opportunity  it  affords 
him  of  traveling  and  learning  something  of  the  world. 
He  is  industrious  and  intelligent,  and  the  simple  calling 
of  a  fisherman  is  not  suited  to  him.  We  will  let  him  en- 
gage on  board  the  *  Hope.'  God  will  watch  over  and 
protect  him,  and  bring  him  back  to  us  again,  uncontam- 
inated  by  vice  or  folly,  steadfast  and  faithful  to  the 
pure  principles  we  have  always  endeavored  to  instill  into 
his  heart." 

Anthony  could  say  no  more ;  for  notwithstanding  his 
apparent  firmness,  the  idea  of  Celestin 's  leaving  home 
almost  broke  his  heart.  As  for  Margaret,  she  covered 
her  face  with  her  apron  and  wept  bitterly ;  Henrietta 
also  wept;  while  Emily  and  little  Henry, seeing  the  tears 
of  their  parents  and  sister,  clung  sobbing  to  Celestin,  as 
though  he  was  that  moment  going  to  leave  them. 

Eight  hours  later,  and  the  youth  sailed  from  Havre, 
on  a  voyage  that  would  require  him  to  be  absent  at  least 
two  years. 

This  separation  was  not  the  only  sacrifice,  however, 
that  was  to  be  required  of  Anthony  and  Margaret.  A 
second  letter  from  William  Lebrun  peremptorily  de- 
manded that  Henrietta  should  be  sent,  without  delay, 
to  New-Orleans.  If  this  request  was  complied  with,  the 
planter  instructed  his  brother  to  draw  on  Bertin,  the 
banker,  for  money  as  he  needed  it,  to  the  amount  of  ten 


40  THE  FISHERMAN  S  DAUGHTER. 

thousand  francs.  He  added  that  unless  Henrietta  was 
sent,  this  would  be  the  last  letter  they  would  receive, 
and  the  family  should  be  disinherited. 

What  response  should  be  made  to  this  ?  Anthony  men- 
tally asked  himself,  looking  in  despair  at  his  deplorable 
condition.  He  felt  that  it  would  be  necessarily  a  long 
time  before  he  could  think  of  being  able  to  work,  and 
even  if  his  health  was  restored,  he  could  not  hope  for 
sufficient  strength  to  endure  any  hard  labor.  His  wife's 
health  grew  feebler  every  day,  and  he  was  not  able  to 
provide  her  with  actual  necessaries.  Emily  and  Henry, 
although  young,  had  begun  to  suffer  from  the  privations 
they  endured ;  and  Henrietta  even,  in  spite  of  her  vigo- 
rous constitution  and  courageous  nature,  grew  every 
day  paler  and  more  delicate.  Such  a  condition  of 
things  was  intolerable. 

Too  proud  to  ask  assistance  from  any  one,  Anthony 
preferred  being  deprived  of  another  child  rather  than 
apply  to  Madame  Hermier.  And  yet  that  estimable 
lady  and  her  daughter  had  done  every  thing  possible  to 
overcome  the  poor  father's  scrupulous  pride. 

One  evening,  at  last,  Anthony  took  up  courage,  and 
made  some  remark  about  accepting  the  offer  of  his  broth- 
er. He  was  interrupted  immediately  by  the  tears  and 
entreaties  of  his  wife ;  but  Henrietta  at  once  spoke,  and 
encouraged  the  idea. 

"Remember,  my  dear  father  and  mother,"  she  ex- 
claimed, "  that  this  journey  you  so  much  dread  would  at 
once  put  an  end  to  all  our  difficulties.  Uncle  offers  to 
leave  you  his  entire  fortune,  if  I  will  go  after  it ;  and 
there  is  no  other  possible  way  for  us  to  escape  from  the 


THE  FISHERMAN  S  DAUGHTER.  4I 

desperate  condition  surrounding  us.  Would  it  not  be 
better  that  this  fortune  should  become  ours  rather  than 
to  fall  into  the  hands  of  strangers  ?  It  is  to  be  hoped, 
moreover,  that  once  I  get  there  I  shall  not  find  it  diffi- 
cult to  persuade  uncle  to  return  to  France.  We  shall 
never  obtain  this  result  by  writing  letters  to  him,  you 
know.  Imagine  our  happiness  should  I  come  back 
bringing  him  with  me  !" 

''If  I  could  go  along  and  take  care  of  you,"  inter- 
rupted Margaret,  "  I  should  probably  be  resigned ;  but 
alone,  at  your  age,  I  can  never  consent  for  you  to  take 
such  a  journey." 

"We  can  find  out  when  the  vessels  sail,"  replied 
Henrietta ;  "  almost  every  time,  there  are  ladies  going 
alone,  or  with  their  families.  It  would  not  be  difficult, 
I  am  sure,  to  find  some  one  who  would  be  willing  to  take 
me  under  her  care,  during  the  voyage." 

And  as  Anthony  seemed  to  approve  of  his  daughter's 
resolution,  Margaret  saw  very  well  that  she  would  have 
to  be  resigned  to  another  separation. 

Madame  Hermier,  when  informed  of  the  project,  said 
she  was  acquainted  with  a  creole  lady,  the  widow  of  a 
sea-captain,  who  expected  very  soon  to  return  to  Ameri- 
ca and  her  native  city  of  New-Orleans.  This  lady  would 
embark  in  the  month  of  May ;  and  at  the  request  of  her 
friend,  Madame  Hermier,  would  doubtless  be  willing  to 
take  Henrietta  under  her  protection  during  the  voyage. 

In  the  course  of  two  days,  every  thing  was  decided, 
and  the  young  girl's  passage  engaged.  This  was  near 
the  end  of  March ;  an  entire  month  remained,  during 
which  the  necessary  preparations  were  to  be  made.     An- 


42  THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER. 

thony  wrote  immediately  to  his  brother,  apprising  him  of 
the  date  of  Henrietta's  anticipated  departure,  and  the 
probable  time  of  her  arrival  at  New-Orleans. 

How  rapidly  the  time  passed,  bringing  the  moment 
of  separation  !  Already  the  hour  for  parting  had  arriv- 
ed, and  yet  it  seemed  she  had  said  nothing  of  so  much 
there  was  to  say  to  her  beloved  parents.  At  last,  bathed 
in  tears,  Henrietta,  with  difficulty,  tore  herself  from  the 
arms  of  her  devoted  family,  and  all  those  she  so  dearly 
loved  and  by  whom  she  was  so  fondly  cherished. 

"  Have  courage !"  she  said,  endeavoring  to  force  back 
her  tears.  "  In  a  little  while  I  will  return,  and  bring 
uncle  with  me,  and  just  imagine  what  joy,  what  happiness 
will  be  ours  then!" 

Madame  Hermier  and  her  daughter  were  deeply  af- 
fected by  these  touching  farewells,  and  consoled  Henri- 
etta, by  promising  to  visit  her  family  very  often. 

"Have  no  fears,"  said  Leonie;  "I  will  try  and  con- 
sole them  so  well  that  they  will  scarcely  have  time  to  miss 
you,  before  you  will  be  back  again,  and " 

At  that  moment,  the  ship's  bell  sounded  for  depart- 
ing, and  Henrietta  was  hurried  on  board. 


CHAPTER    X. 

THE    VOYAGE — AN    UNEXPECTED    DIFFICULTY. 

The  vessel  on  which  our  young  heroine  sailed  was 
not  bound  directly  for  New-Orleans ;  the  captain  having 
first  to  convey  some  instructions  or  orders  to  a  colony 
located  on  the  coast  of  Senegambia.  The  voyage,  on 
this  account,  was  considerably  prolonged.  Notwith- 
standing the  inconvenience  of  such  a  necessity,  Madame 
Delmont,  the  lady  under  whose  protection  Henrietta  had 
been  placed,  preferred  sailing  on  the  "  Swallow"  because 
the  captain  of  that  vessel  had  been  a  friend  of  her  hus- 
band. 

The  first  few  days  they  were  favored  with  a  smooth  sea 
and  most  beautiful  weather.  Henrietta,  although  much 
depressed  and  very  sad  for  some  time  after  parting  with 
her  parents,  soon  recovered  her  cheerfulness.  "  It  is  for 
their  benefit  that  I  am  going,"  she  reflected ;  "  then  why 
should  I  regret  it  ?"  Then  she  began  to  wonder  how 
she  would  feel  and  act,  when  she  arrived  at  her  uncle's ; 
and  very  soon,  carried  away  by  her  imagination,  she  was 
dreaming  joyfully  of  all  she  would  be  able  to  do  to  con- 
tribute to  his  happiness.  Surely  it  would  not  be  very 
long  either,  before  he  would  decide  upon  returning  to 
France. 


44  THE  fisherman's  daughter. 

She  was  influenced  also  by  another  cause  of  happi- 
ness, at  first  not  very  definite,  but  which,  by  degrees,  as- 
sumed a  prominent  place  in  the  young  girl's  thoughts. 
She  was  now  about  to  realize  the  beautiful  dreams  in 
which  she  had  so  often  indulged  while  reading  the  books 
loaned  her  by  Leonie.  What  pleasure  might  she  not  an- 
ticipate in  traveling  through  those  distant  countries,  the 
mere  description  of  which  had  so  delighted  her ! 

Enjoying  these  brilliant  anticipations  and  the  affec- 
tionate kindness  of  Madame  Delmont,  Henrietta  found 
the  time  passing  rapidly  enough.  Besides,  being  always 
disposed  to  make  herself  useful,  she  found  a  thousand 
kind  offices  to  perform  for  the  children  of  her  protec- 
tress. She  amused  them  by  relating  stories  that  had  been 
told  her  in  childhood ;  watched  over  them  with  constant 
solicitude,  when  they  promenaded  the  deck  of  the  ves- 
sel ;  in  fact,  she  took  entirely  the  place  of  their  mother, 
who  had  been  suffering  from  sea-sickness,  and  unable  to 
leave  her  state-room  since  the  day  she  embarked. 

Near  the  coast  of  Senegambia,  the  weather,  which 
had  until  then  been  most  favorable,  became  quite  tem- 
pestuous, and  the  captain  prudently  resolved  to  run  into 
the  first  bay  that  seemed  to  offer  sufficient  shelter. 
This  proved  to  be  no  vain  precaution ;  during  eight  en- 
tire days  a  violent  storm  continued  to  rage,  and  the  ship, 
notwithstanding  the  protection  afforded  by  the  harbor, 
suffered  considerable  damage. 

-  When  the  storm  had  ceased,  the  captain  hastened  to 
have  all  necessary  repairs  made,  and  permitted  his  crew 
to  go  on  shore  for  recreation,  after  the  fatigue  they  had 


THE  FISHERMAN  S  DAUGHTER.  45 

undergone.  Madame  Delmont,  accompanied  by  her 
children  and  Henrietta,  also  landed. 

They  found  a  small  negro  hamlet  near  the  beach,  and, 
not  far  distant,  several  houses  or  habitations  occupied 
by  Europeans,  engaged  in  the  ivory  trade,  also  trading 
in  gold-dust,  gums,  spices,  palm-oil,  and  other  products 
of  this  African  country.  These  colonists,  the  majority 
of  whom  were  French,  rejoiced  at  this  unexpected  visit 
of  their  countrymen,  gave  the  sailors  and  passengers  a 
cordial  welcome,  and  dispatched  a  quantity  of  fresh  pro- 
visions to  the  ship.  The  entire  day  passed  rapidly  and 
pleasantly.  Toward  evening,  the  captain  gave  the  sig- 
nal for  departure.  Just  as  they  reached  the  beach,  the 
most  frightful  bowlings  and  cries  arose  from  the  negro 
hamlet,  and  a  troop  of  armed  warriors  rushed  upon  the 
crew  who  were  returning  to  the  ship. 

In  the  first  moment  of  surprise,  the  sailors,  unprepar- 
ed for  the  attack,  defended  themselves  badly,  and  several 
were  wounded. 

At  last,  the  colonists,  who  had  come  down  to  see 
them  off,  succeeded  in  quelling  the  tumult,  and  demand- 
ed the  cause  of  the  aggression. 

A  gigantic  negro  immediately  advanced,  gesticulat- 
ing violently,  and  holding  up  the  body  of  a  serpent  that 
one  of  the  sailors  had  killed  with  his  sabre.  Seven  or 
eight  feet  long,  the  reptile  had  an  immense  round  head ; 
his  skin  was  gray,  richly  painted  with  the  most  brilliant 
hues  of  yellow,  blue,  and  brown,  with  a  small  pointed 
tail. 

"  Ah  !"  exclaimed  one  of  the  colonists,  "who  has 
been  so  unfortunate  as  to  kill  this  serpent  ?     It  is  held 


46  THE  fisherman's  daughter. 

sacred  by  the  negroes,  is  one  of  their  idols,  and  we 
shall  find  it  difficult  to  appease  their  wrath." 

And  so  it  proved  ;  for  in  a  few  moments  they  again 
renewed  the  assault.  It  was  with  great  difficulty  the  cap- 
tain succeeded  in  embarking  his  crew  and  passengers, 
and,  notwithstanding  the  expedition  with  which  the  boats 
pushed  off  from  the  shore,  more  than  one  of  the  enemies' 
arrows  took  effect  upon  the  fugitives. 

They  had  scarcely  gotten  on  board  the  vessel,  when 
Madame  Delmont  uttered  a  cry  of  horror.  She  then, 
for  the  first  time,  discovered  that  Henrietta  was  missing; 
she  had  been  left  on  shore.  In  the  alarm  and  confusion 
caused  by  the  sudden  attack,  she  scarcely  had  strength 
to  save  her  own  children.  But  recovering  from  this  pros- 
tration, she  immediately  looked  around,  supposing  Hen- 
rietta had  followed  her.  What  had  become  of  the  unfor- 
tunate young  girl  ?  The  distracted  woman  implored  the 
captain  to  return  to  land,  wringing  her  hands  in  de- 
spair. This  child,  confided  to  her  care,  had  doubtless 
already  been  massacred  by  those  negro  savages. 

The  utmost  consternation  reigned  throughout  the 
ship  at  this  intelligence.  By  her  affability  and  gentle 
deportment,  Henrietta  had  gained  the  love  of  all  on 
board;  therefore  the  sailors  in  a  body  volunteered  to 
return  to  land  in  search  of  her.  The  captain  selected 
those  whom  he  knew  possessed  the  greatest  shrewdness, 
courage,  and  prudence ;  then,  transferring  the  command 
of  the  ship  to  his  second  mate,  went  himself  to  direct 
the  expedition. 

It  was  with  great  difficulty  Madame  Delmont  could 
be  prevented  from  returning  with  them  to  the  shore, 


THE  FISHERMAN  S  DAUGHTER.  4/ 

The  young  girl  must  be  found,  she  insisted,  and  bitterly 
reproached  herself  for  having  lost  sight  of  her :  finally, 
forcible  measures  were  obliged  to  be  used  to  compel  the 
distracted  woman  to  remain  on  the  vessel. 

All  in  vain  the  captain  and  sailors  scoured  the 
country  around  the  negro  village ;  in  vain  they  interro- 
gated a  number  of  negroes  whom  they  captured.  The 
entire  night  and  the  following  day  were  spent  in  fruit- 
less searches.  At  last,  they  were  forced  to  conclude  that 
Henrietta  had  been  murdered  and  her  body  buried  or 
concealed.  The  colonists  themselves,  not  daring,  with- 
out imperiling  their  own  safety,  to  openly  take  part 
with  the  people  of  the  ship,  went  secretly  among  the 
blacks  to  make  inquiry,  but  were  unable  to  obtain  the 
slightest  clue  to  the  fate  of  the  unfortunate  girl.  Com- 
pelled, at  length,  to  abandon  the  useless  search,  the  cap- 
tain and  sailors  returned  sadly  to  the  vessel,  while  Ma- 
dame Delmont,  on  seeing  them  return  alone,  was  over- 
whelmed anew  with  an  agony  of  grief  and  remorse. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

THE    SACRED    SERPENT. 

Henrietta  was  not  dead.  Made  prisoner,  and  so 
closely  bound  as  scarcely  to  be  able  to  move,  she  was 
taken  into  one  of  the  negro  cabins,  and  there,  thrown  in 
a  dark  corner  on  the  ground,  she  awaited  in  terror  the 
fate  reserved  for  her.  It  would  doubtless  be  a  feaiful 
one! 

"O  my  poor  mother,  my  dear  father!"  she  mur- 
mured in  the  agony  of  despair ;  "  you  are  dreaming  of 
me.  Doubtless  you  are  saying  now,  that  very  soon  I  shall 
be  happy  with  my  uncle.  Could  you  only  know  where  I 
am,  and  what  my  fate  is  to  be  in  a  few  hours !"  And  her 
very  thoughts  were  stifled  by  tears  and  sobs.  How,  in- 
deed, could  a  child  of  scarcely  fourteen  years  contem- 
plate with  serene  composure  the  cruel  termination  that 
threatened  her  young  life .''  In  spirit  she  was  transport- 
ed to  her  beloved  home  at  White  Cottage ;  one  after  an- 
other, every  circumstance  of  her  tranquil,  happy  life 
passed  in  succession  before  her,  and  she  clasped  to  her 
heart  in  imagination  her  dear  parents,  Celestin,  Emily, 
and  Henry,  her  precious  little  brother  and  godson. 

At  last,  fatigue  overcame  both  terror  and  wretched- 
ness, and  exhausted  she  sank  into  a  feverish  slumber. 
-For  an  hour,  perhaps,  she  slept,  when  a  sudden  sensa- 


THE   FISHERMAN  S  DAUGHTER.  49 

tion  of  coldness  on  one  of  her  hands,  caused  her  to 
start  up  with  an  impression  of  dread.  She  opened  her 
eyes,  and  what  was  her  terror  on  discovering,  through 
the  almost  perfect  darkness  surrounding  her,  an  enor- 
mous serpent  twined  around  her  arms,  precisely  similar 
to  the  one  whose  death  by  the  sailor  had  caused  the 
calamity  by  which  she  had  been  overtaken  !  She  tried 
to  cry  out,  but  her  voice  died  away  on  her  lips.  Bound 
as  she  was,  it  was  impossible  to  defend  herself ;  besides, 
how  utterly  useless  to  struggle  against  such  an  enormous 
reptile ! 

Seized  with  a  mortal  terror,  she  was  prevented  from 
noticing  that  the  serpent  seemed  disposed  to  do  her  no 
harm.  On  the  contrary,  he  rubbed  his  great  round  head 
against  her  arms  and  hands,  as  if  desiring  to  be  ca- 
ressed ;  and  at  length,  coiling  himself  up  in  a  circle  on 
her  knees,  he  went  to  sleep. 

Astonished  at  this,  Henrietta  concluded  that  the  rep- 
tile must  be  inoffensive,  yet,  although  slightly  reassured 
by  this  supposition,  with  a  very  natural  feeling  of  repug- 
nance, she  felt  inclined  to  throw  it  out  of  her  lap,  but 
the  idea  of  having  it  again  wrapping  and  coiling  itself 
around  her  body  prevented  her  from  making  the  slight- 
est movement. 

This  strange  and  frightful  position  was  prolonged  for 
several  hours.  Toward  midnight  loud  cries  suddenly  be- 
gan to  resound  near  the  door  of  the  prisoner's  hut,  and  a 
crowd  of  negroes,  men,  women,  and  children,  rushed  in 

One  of  the  blacks,  a  gigantic  and  powerful  creature, 
advanced  toward  Henrietta,  armed  with  an  old  Euro- 
pean sabre.     He  was  in  the  act  of  bringing  the  weapon 


50  THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER. 

down  on  the  young  girl's  head,  when  he  perceived  the 
serpent.  With  a  yell  of  surprise,  he  fell  prostrate  on  the 
ground.  The  whole  crowd  followed  his  example,  and 
before  Henrietta  had  recovered  from  her  astonishment, 
they  had  removed  the  cords  that  bound  her,  and  a  pro- 
fusion of  refreshments,  consisting  of  fruits,  palm-wine, 
etc.,  were  placed  before  her. 

The  first  impulse,  on  regaining  her  liberty,  was  to 
cast  the  serpent  to  the  ground,  but  instantly  she  saw 
some  women  approaching  the  reptile  with  a  jar  of  milk, 
and  sinking  on  their  knees  before  it,  waited  patiently  and 
reverently  for  it  to  drink. 

All  at  once  it  occurred  to  Henrietta,  that  she  had 
read  in  one  of  Leonie's  books,  that  the  negroes  worship- 
ed an  infinity  of  objects,  animate  and  inanimate,  which 
they  call  fetiches.  She  remembered,  also,  at  the  moment 
she  was  captured,  of  hearing  one  of  the  colonists  say 
something  about  the  "  sacred  serpent."  All  fear  of  the 
reptile  then  disappeared,  and  she  returned  fervent  thanks 
to  God  for  the  visible  protection  he  had  extended  around 
her.  Seeing  the  young  girl  clasp  her  hands,  the  negroes 
supposed  it  to  be  an  act  of  adoration  offered  to  their 
idol,  and  their  kind  attentions  increased.  They 
brought  in  a  great  quantity  of  leaves  and  moss,  and 
spread  them  down  in  a  corner  of  the  hut,  to  serve  as  a 
bed,  and  then,  all  together,  retired  in  silence. 

Left  alone,  Henrietta  tremblingly  endeavored  to  rid 

herself  of  the  serpent,  which  still  lay  sleeping  on  her 

^  knees.     She  was  not  yet  assured  that  this  species  of 

/    snake  was  perfectly  docile  and  not  at  all  venomous. 

The  negroes  held  it  in  great  veneration  because  of  its 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  5 1 

making  furious  war  upon  the  poisonous  reptiles  so  nu- 
merous throughout  Africa,  and  especially  a  kind  of  black 
viper,  about  ten  feet  long,  whose  bite  always  proved 
fatal. 

Although  exhausted  by  the  rapid  succession  of  emo- 
tions through  which  she  had  passed,  the  young  girl  look- 
ed around  her  to  discover,  if  possible,  some  means  by 
which  to  make  her  escape ;  but  all  hope  fled  when  she 
heard  the  sound  of  footsteps  and  voices,  and  perceived, 
through  the  openings  between  the  logs  of  which  the  hut 
was  built,  that  a  guard  had  been  placed  around  it.  She 
then  endeavored  to  resign  herself  to  her  fate  as  a  prison- 
er, yet,  notwithstanding  the  wretchedness  caused  by  the 
hopeless  condition  surrounding  her,  the  young  girl  felt 
more  composed.  "My  God!"  she  cried,  with  a  sudden 
outburst  of  grateful  fervor  and  steadfast  faith,  "my 
God  !  Thou  hast  already  miraculously  snatched  me  from 
the  jaws  of  death ;  in  Thee  alone  do  I  place  my  trust : 
watch  over  me,  and  in  the  plenitude  of  Thy  goodness 
and  mercy,  abandon  not  Thy  helpless  child !" 

Resigning  herself  entirely  into  the  hands  of  God,  with 
a  last  lingering  thought  to  parents  and  home,  she  retired 
to  her  rude  couch  of  leaves  and  moss,  and  was  soon 
wrapped  in  a  quiet  slumber. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

HENRIETTA'S  SUFFERINGS. 

For  three  days  Henrietta  was  kept  a  prisoner,  and 
the  hut  strictly  guarded,  where  every  night  the  "  sacred 
serpent"  came  to  sleep.  On  the  fourth  day,  she  was  con- 
ducted from  her  lodging,  and  taken  off  to  a  great  dis- 
tance, to  gather  sticks  and  dead  branches  for  fire-wood. 
Reaching  the  summit  of  a  small  hill,  she  came  in  view  of 
the  ocean,  but  looked  in  vain  for  a  glimpse  of  the  ship ; 
the  bay  was  deserted,  not  a  sail  to  be  seen. 

Poor  Henrietta !  she  was  indeed  abandoned !  The 
conviction  seemed  so  cruel  that,  overwhelmed  by  a  sense 
of  her  misery,  she  threw  herself  on  the  ground  in  an 
agony  of  tears  and  grief. 

The  negroes  who  accompanied  her,  although  they 
treated  her  with  a  certain  degree  of  deference,  imme- 
diately gathered  around,  and  with  earnest  and  threaten- 
ing gestures,  commanded  her  to  return  to  her  task.  She 
was  compelled  to  obey. 

The  work  assigned  the  poor  girl  was  not  in  itself 
very  painful  or  laborious ;  but  was  rendered  intolerable 
from  having  to  be  accomplished  under  the  burning  rays  of 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  53 

a  tropical  sun,  Henrietta  was  incessantly  consumed  by 
an  intense  thirst,  besides  being  kept  in  perpetual  dread ; 
as  in  traversing  the  forests,  and  making  her  way  through 
the  dense  shrubbery,  at  every  step  she  could  hear  the 
black  viper's  hiss,  while  thousands  of  strange  and  horri- 
ble insects  were  flying  and  buzzing  in  swarms  around 
her.  Monkeys  were  leaping  and  chattering  among  the 
branches  of  the  trees,  and  every  moment  a  loud  roaring 
sound  announced  that  a  lion,  panther,  oi  leopard  had 
been  aroused  from  his  slumbers. 

Toward  midday,  when  the  sun's  rays  were  hottest, 
Henrietta,  exhausted  and  faint,  ventured  to  take  a  few 
moments'  repose.  Her  guards  seeming  to  offer  no  objec- 
tion, she  laid  herself  down  at  the  foot  of  a  palm-tree, 
whose  large  leaves  afforded  a  slight  shade.  In  a  very 
short  time,  however,  she  was  compelled  to  get  up  and 
resume  her  task.  When  evening  came  on,  they  returned 
to  the  village,  and  the  young  girl  was  again  shut  up  in 
the  hut. 

More  than  an  entire  month  passed  away,  during 
which  each  succeeding  day  was  a  repetition  of  the  last. 
Henrietta  was  obliged  to  go  to  the  woods,  but  from  com- 
passion on  the  part  of  her  keepers,  or  some  other  motive, 
she  was  not  ill-treated ;  they  only  forced  her  to  eat  im- 
moderately, and,  in  spite  of  her  entreaties,  would  scarcely 
ever  permit  her  to  drink.  When,  impelled  by  a  burning 
thirst,  she  would  approach  a  stream  of  water,  or  if  she 
even  tried  to  chew  the  green  leaves,  in  order  to  moisten 
her  parched  lips  and  tongue,  they  would  always  prevent 
her. 

This  mysterious  conduct  was  very  soon   explained. 


54  THE  fisherman's  daughter. 

With  their  own  idiom,  the  negroes  had  mixed  some 
French  words,  and,  at  the  end  of  a  fortnight,  Henrietta 
was  enabled,  by  paying  close  attention,  to  understand 
slightly  what  they  said.  In  this  way,  she  discovered  their 
object  was  to  fatten  her,  in  order  that  she  might  become 
more  worthy  of  being  immolated  to  their  idols,  on  a  so- 
lemn festival  which  was  to  take  place  at  the  next  full 
moon,  the  usual  season  of  devotion  and  rejoicing  with 
the  African  people. 

At  this  discovery  Henrietta's  last  hope  vanished  ;  but 
her  confidence  in  God  was  not  for  a  moment  shaken. 
"  My  life  is  in  His  hands,"  she  exclaimed ;  "  not  a  hair  of 
my  head  can  fall  to  the  ground  without  His  permission. 
May  His  holy  will  be  done !" 

The  day  before  the  full  moon,  she  was  conducted  for 
the  last  time  to  the  fields.  It  was  six  o'clock  in  the 
morning  when  they  arrived.  While  working,  and  with- 
out being  conscious  of  it  herself,  she  wandered  far  away 
from  her  dusky  companions,  and  was  left  entirely  alone 
with  the  exception  of  one  woman.  The  two  were  just  in 
the  act  of  starting  to  rejoin  the  group,  when  a  frightful 
roar  was  heard,  and  an  enormous  lion  rushed  furiously 
from  the  thicket.  Before  they  could  move,  the  ferocious 
animal  had  sprung  upon  the  negress,  strangled  her,  and 
then  proceeded  deliberately  to  devour  her,  all  the  time 
keeping  his  haggard  and  bloodshot  eyes  fixed  on  Henri- 
etta. 

How  the  child  had  strength  to  fly,  it  is  impossible  to 
conceive,  but  she  made  her  escape.  What  were  her  feel- 
ings, when,  as  night  came  on,  she  found  herself  alone,  in 
the  midst  of  an  immense  plain,  and  far  away  from  even 


THE  FISHERMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  55 

the  negro  village,  it  is  difficult  to  imagine.  But  one  idea 
alone  inspired  her  with  courage  ;  she  was  free  !  there  was 
a  radiant  joy  in  the  thought,  though  all  around  her  lurk- 
ed darkness  and  danger !  But  after  the  first  moment  of 
ecstasy  had  passed,  and  the  full  consciousness  of  her 
perilous  position  flashed  upon  her,  an  intense  anguish 
took  possession  of  her  soul.  What  had  she  really  gained 
by  her  escape  ?  How,  all  alone,  would  she  be  able  to 
direct  her  course  through  this  savage  country,  where,  at 
every  step,  mortal  dangers  were  to  be  encountered  .'*  And 
even  if  she  succeeded  in  escaping  the  fangs  of  wild 
beasts  and  venomous  reptiles,  what  could  save  her  from 
the  deadly  grasp  of  starvation  ? 

And  yet,  despite  these  gloomy  reflections,  a  gleam  of 
hope  dawned  in  the  heart  of  Henrietta.  "  Why  not  aban- 
don myself  entirely  into  the  hands  of  divine  Provi- 
dence .''"  she  exclaimed  mentally ;  **  how  ungrateful  in 
me  to  act  otherwise  !  Has  it  not  been  God  who  has  so 
miraculously  and  visibly  led  me  by  the  hand  through  the 
midst  of  every  peril,  even  until  this  hour .''" 

These  reflections  aroused  all  her  courage ;  and,  too 
inexperienced  to  comprehend  the  entire  extent  of  the 
difficulties  in  the  way  of  her  deliverance,  she  started  re- 
solutely across  the  plain. 

Darkness  very  soon  began  to  close  around  her  its 
gloomy  folds,  as  in  these  torrid  regions  there  is,  properly 
speaking,  no  twilight ;  and  she  hastened  to  find  a  shelter 
for  the  night.  After  many  unsuccessful  efforts,  she  at 
length  found  a  small  tree  growing  at  the  foot  of  a  palm, 
into  which  she  climbed,  and  from  thence  reached  the 
junction  of  two  large  palm-branches  which  she  thought 


56  THE  fisherman's  daughter. 

would  afford  her  a  secure  lodging-place  for  the  night. 
Her  condition  was  indeed  pitiable ;  her  hands  were  torn 
and  bleeding,  her  face  lacerated  by  thorns ;  but  all 
fear  had  passed  away,  leaving  her  soul  perfectly  calm 
and  serene.  She  was  hoping  against  hope;  had  "cast 
her  burdens  upon  the  Lord,"  and,  although  food  had  not 
passed  her  lips  since  the  evening  before,  she  soon  fell 
into  a  peaceful  slumber. 

In  this  position  she  passed  the  night.  More  than 
once  she  was  aroused  by  the  cries  of  wild  beasts,  and  in 
every  direction  around  her  could  discern,  gleaming 
through  the  darkness,  the  mottled  forms  of  serpents 
twining  and  untwining  themselves  about  the  trunks  of 
the  trees. 

Morning  at  length  dawned,  dispelling  a  portion,  at 
least,  of  the  gloom  and  terror  surrounding  her.  With 
the  first  gleam  of  light,  she  descended  from  the  palm  and 
recommenced  her  journey  across  the  plain.  She  gather- 
ed some  fruits,  that  slightly  appeased  her  hunger ;  but 
constantly  tormented  with  thirst,  she  sought  to  find  a 
stream  of  water.  Listening  attentively,  she  at  last 
thought  she  heard  a  distant  murmur,  resembling  the 
sound  of  running  water.  Following  the  direction  of  the 
sound,  after  an  hour's  fatiguing  walk,  she  reached  the 
bank  of  a  river,  whose  rapid  flow,  over  a  bed  of  rocks, 
produced  the  noise  that  had  attracted  her. 

With  great  difficulty,  Henrietta  succeeded  in  de- 
scending the  steep,  rugged  banks  of  the  river,  and  dip- 
ping up  some  water  with  her  hand,  carried  it  eagerly  to 
her  lips.  An  intolerable  odor  of  musk,  and  a  strange 
disagreeable  taste,  caused  her  to  reject  it  as  quickly  in 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  57 

disgust.  Looking  around  her,  the  cause  of  this  taste  and 
smell  was  at  once  explained.  Great  numbers  of  sleeping 
crocodiles  covered  the  surface  of  the  water,  and,  half 
dead  with  terror,  the  young  girl  with  difficulty  clambered 
up  the  steep  bank  of  the  liver,  and  resumed  her  sad  and 
perilous  journey. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE  MELOCACTUS — THE  COLONIST   AND   HIS   FAMILY. 

Africa  is  a  country  of  most  wonderful  fertility. 
The  trees  grow  to  an  enormous  size,  such  as  the  manchi- 
neel  and  Indian  date  or  great  palm-tree ;  but  above  all,  the 
gigantic  baobab,  or  Adansoria  digitata,  the  king  of  the 
forest,  whose  branches  grow  in  the  form  of  a  dome,  and 
are  capable  of  giving  shelter  to  two  thousand  persons ; 
the  immense  trunk,  thirty  feet  in  diameter,  when  hollow- 
ed out  by  time,  or  the  dexterity  of  the  negroes,  will  con- 
tain thirty  persons.  Herbs  and  plants  grow  also  to  a 
wonderful  size  and  height ;  among  them  a  profuse  vari- 
ety of  cactus,  aloes,  and  other  plants,  bulbous  and  thor- 
ny. The  flowers  are  magnificent,  and  the  most  delightful 
perfumes  emanate  from  every  thicket  and  are  exhaled 
from  every  brush.  Swarms  of  insects  of  every  variety 
and  form  live  in  the  midst  of  this  luxurious  vegetation. 
Countless  numbers  of  birds  of  the  richest  plumage,  the 
bengalis,  rollers,  and  parrots,  suspend  their  nests  from 
the  smallest  branches.  The  marshes  are  inhabited  by 
flamingoes,  storks,  and  guinea  fowls ;  and  in  the  deserts 
we  encounter  the  ostrich  and  giraffe.  Multitudes  of 
monkeys  inhabit  the  forests ;  among  them,  and  most  re- 
markable above  all,  the  frightful  chimpanzee,  or  orang- 
outang. 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  59 

When  night  came  on,  the  deep  azure  vault  of 
heaven  was  covered  Avith  stars  and  constellations,  the 
most  brilliant  and  beautiful  of  which  is  the  "South- 
ern Cross."  But  amid  all  these  magnificent  surround- 
ings, dangers  are  intermingled,  and  every  moment 
lurking.  Lions,  tigers,  leopards,  panthers,  the  rhi- 
noceros and  buffalo,  infest  the  forests  and  cliffs.  The 
banks  of  the  smallest  water-courses  swarm  with  croco- 
diles, and  close  by,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  rivers,  lies  the 
hippopotamus.  Serpents  abound  in  infinite  multitudes, 
from  the  immense  boa-constrictor  down  to  the  tiny  rep- 
tile called  de  verre,  scarcely  the  third  of  an  inch  in 
length,  which  lies  concealed  in  the  calixes  of  flowers,  and 
whose  bite  is  always  fatal.  Swarms  of  locusts  often 
come,  and,  in  a  few  hours,  reduce  the  most  verdant  coun- 
try to  a  desert  waste.  Scorpions  are  innumerable,  and 
the  white  ants  or  termites  spread  far  and  wide  their  ra- 
vages. 

To  all  these  disadvantages  is  added  a  most  insalu- 
brious climate.  The  swamps,  the  great  luxuriance  of  ve- 
getation, together  with  the  alternate  dryness  and  humi- 
dity of  the  atmosphere,  produce  terrible  fevers,  which 
very  few  Europeans  are  able  to  resist.  Finally,  and 
above  all  other  dangers,  are  the  various  tribes  of  negroes 
to  be  encountered,  some  of  whom  are  cannibals,  and  al- 
most all  are  ferocious  savages. 

It  was,  then,  in  the  midst  of  these  thousand  dangers 
Henrietta  had  to  make  her  way.  Would  she  ever  be  able 
to  escape  ? 

On  leaving  the  river,  she  walked,  or  rather,  dragged 
herself  along  in  a  westerly  direction.     Fortunately,  she 


6q  the  fisherman's  daughter. 

had  learned  from  her  father  how  to  be  guided  by  the  si- 
tuation of  the  sun  and  stars.  Again  she  ate  fruits ;  but 
had  nothing  to  quench  her  burning  thirst,  until  at  length 
she  found  a  plant  called  the  melocactus  or  melon-thistle, 
from  which  she  had  seen  the  negroes  take  a  sweet  and 
refreshing  juice ;  she  hastened  to  break  some  of  these, 
and  they  satisfied  her  intense  thirst. 

During  an  entire  week  Henrietta  had  traveled,  and 
yet  the  plain  seemed  to  stretch  out  in  endless  length  be- 
fore her.  But  we  will  not  dwell  on  these  sad  details. 
On  the  morning  of  the  eighth  day,  a  forest  appeared  in  the 
distance,  and  the  report  of  a  gun  reached  her.  Imme- 
diately the  courage  of  the  young  girl  revived,  because 
she  believed  the  gun  had  been  fired  by  some  of  the  colo- 
nists. God,  who,  since  her  escape  from  the  negroes,  had 
so  visibly  watched  over  her,  permitted  her  not  to  be  de- 
ceived. It  was  an  inhabitant  of  a  settlement  about 
ninety  miles  from"  the  place  Henrietta  had  landed,  a 
gentleman  who  was  out  engaged  in  hunting. 

As  soon  as  she  came  in  sight  of  him,  forgetting  her 
fatigue,  the  young  girl  ran  toward  him,  and  throwing 
herself  at  his  feet,  implored  him  to  have  pity  on  her.  So 
intense  was  her  emotion,  she  was  not  able  to  finish  her 
prayer,  but  fell  fainting  at  his  feet. 

The  astonished  colonist  hastened  to  render  her  all 
the  assistance  in  his  power,  and  when  she  recovered  from 
her  swoon,  requested  to  know  by  what  train  of  circum- 
stances she  had  been  brought  all  alone  to  the  confines  of 
an  African  desert.  The  question  was  asked  in  English ; 
but  Mr.  Thompson — for  such  was  the  gentleman's  name — 


THE  fisherman's   DAUGHTER.  6l 

knew  a  little  French ;  thus  the  young  girl  was  enabled 
to  give  him  a  succinct  account  of  all  her  misfortunes. 

The  recital  deeply  moved  Mr.  Thompson,  who  pro- 
mised immediately  to  interest  himself  in  securing  her  a 
passage  to  New- Orleans;  but  until  a  vessel  could  be 
found,  on  which  he  could  confide  her  with  safety,  she 
would  be  welcome,  he  said,  to  remain  in  his  family,  and 
his  wife  and  daughters  would  do  every  thing  in  their 
power  to  make  her  comfortable  and  happy. 

After  these  kind  assurances,  the  colonist  gave  her  a 
portion  of  the  provisions  in  his  game-bag ;  then  placing 
her  on  his  horse,  he  started  toward  the  settlement. 

With  what  joy  Henrietta  again  beheld  the  faces  of 
Europeans,  and  how  her  heart  overflowed  with  gratitude 
when  Mrs.  Thompson  and  her  daughter  hastened  to  wel- 
come her,  and  lavished  on  her  all  those  kind  cares  and 
attentions  of  which  she  stood  in  such  pressing  need! 
Their  cares  became  still  more  necessary  and  devoted 
during  the  night  after  her  arrival ;  the  sufferings  she  had 
undergone  had  given  so  great  a  shock  to  her  system  that 
she  was  stricken  down  with  a  high  fever,  which  in  a  few 
days  reduced  her  to  the  last  extremity. 

The  devotion  of  her  kind  hostess  and  daughters 
again  saved  her  from  this  danger,  and  a  month  after  her 
arrival  among  them,  she  had  recovered  sufficiently  to 
be  able  to  undertake  another  voyage. 

Notwithstanding  the  kindness  with  which  she  was 
treated,  she  awaited  with  the  greatest  impatience  the  ar- 
rival of  an  opportunity  to  continue  her  journey.  Every 
day  found  her  on  the  sea-shore,  anxiously  watching  the 
horizon,  to  see  if  a  vessel  appeared,  which  might  con- 


62  THE  fisherman's   DAUGHTER. 

duct  her  to  the  end  of  the  journey  so  unfortunately  in- 
terrupted. Day  after  day  passed,  and  still  no  ship  des- 
tined for  New-Orleans  entered  the  port;  and  the  disap- 
pointed child  at  last  almost  abandoned  herself  to  despair. 

"  Don't  give  up  or  feel  discouraged,"  said  Natalie, 
the  eldest  daughter  of  Mrs.  Thompson ;  "  it  can  not  be 
long  before  a  vessel  comes  in,  and  you  will  soon  be  with 
your  dear  uncle.  But  I  assure  you,  I  should  like  nothing 
better  than  to  have  you  remain  here  with  us.  We  have 
found  you  so  amiable  and  pleasant,  we  shall  all  regret 
your  departure." 

"Yes,  indeed,"  said  Eva,  the  youngest  sister,  "  I  shall 
feel,  my  dear  Miss  Henrietta,  truly  sorry  when  you  leave 
us.  I  wish  you  did  not  have  to  go ;  but  I  hope,  however, 
you  will  sometimes  think  of  us." 

"  Think  of  you  !"  cried  Henrietta  ;  "  can  you  doubt  it 
for  a  moment !  What  do  I  not  owe  your  family  ?  Has 
your  dear  father  not  saved  my  life?  But  for  him  I 
should  have  died  in  the  desert.  My  strength  was  ex- 
hausted, and  I  should  have  soon  become  the  prey  of  lions 
or  the  victim  of  savage  negroes.  And  then,  think  of  all 
your  dear,  good  mother  and  yourselves  have  done  for 
me  since  my  arrival  here.  You  could  not  have  bestowed 
more  generous  attention  and  care  on  a  daughter  or  a 
beloved  sister  !  Believe  me,  I  never  can  be  so  ungrate- 
ful as  to  forget  you  !" 

And  saying  this,  she  threw  herself  into  the  arms  of 
her  young  friends,  and  they  exchanged  tearful  protesta- 
tions of  love  and  fidelity.  A  little  more  than  three 
months  had  passed  since  Henrietta  had  been  captured 
by  the  negroes. 


THE  fisherman's  PAUGHTER.  63 

"Ah  !"  she  would  often  reflect,  "if  this  unfortunate 
affair  had  not  taken  place,  I  should  long  since  have  been 
happy  with  my  uncle !  Now  he  believes  me  dead,  and 
has  doubtless  written  to  my  parents  that  I  am !  O 
my  God !  how  deeply  they  will  be  grieved  !" 

At  last,  one  day,  a  vessel  entered  the  port  for  water ; 
and  not  only  was  it  bound  for  New-Orleans,  but  the  cap- 
tain's wife  was  also  on  board,  and  Henrietta  would 
therefore  have  a  traveling  companion.  The  captain  ob- 
jected, at  first,  to  taking  another  passenger ;  but  on  hear- 
ing from  Mr.  Thompson  the  young  girl's  history,  his 
sympathies  were  so  deeply  aroused  that  he  at  once  pro- 
mised the  passage. 

Three  days  after,  Henrietta  bade  an  affectionate 
adieu  to  the  Thompson  family,  who  had  followed  to  the 
wharf  to  see  her  on  board  the  "  Vigilant." 

Very  soon  the  shores  of  Africa,  which  had  been  so 
near  proving  fatal  to  her  hopes  and  life,  disappeared 
from  view  forever,  and  with  a  glad  heart  the  young  girl 
gave  herself  up  to  dreams  of  happiness  that  awaited  her 
in  Louisiana. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE   ARRIVAL — WILLIAM   LEBRUN. 

The  voyage  proved  a  happy  one,  and  the  "  Vigilant" 
entered  the  Mississippi  River  early  in  December.  Im- 
mediately on  his  arrival  at  New-Orleans,  the  captain  ad- 
dressed a  note  to  the  French  Consul,  requesting  him  to 
make  inquiry  for  Mr.  Lebrun,  and  inform  him  that  his 
niece  was  on  board. 

^  The  response  was  prompt ;  in  the  afternoon  of  the 
same  day,  William  Lebrun  ascended  the  vessel,  and  wept 
with  joy  as  he  folded  his  niece  to  his  heart. 

Henrietta  then  related  her  adventures,  her  uncle  lis- 
tening, and  occasionally  interrupting  her  with  tears  and 
sighs. 

"I  believed  you  were  lost,  my  dear  child,"  he  ex- 
claimed, when  she  had  finished  her  story.  "  On  arriving 
here,  the  captain  of  the  *  Swallow  '  informed  me  of  all 
that  had  occurred.  I  was  almost  distracted  with  grief, 
and  determined  to  enter  a  complaint  against  the  impru- 
dent captain  ;  but  after  an  interview  with  Madame  Del- 
mont  and  beholding  the  sorrow  in  which  I  found  her 
plunged,  besides  hearing  the  explanation  she  gave,  I  was 
deterred  from  all  such  proceedings. 


THE  fisherman's   DAUGHTER.  6$ 

"  But  a  cruel  necessity  still  hung  over  me ;  the  terrible 
misfortune  that  had  befallen  them  must  be  announced  to 
your  parents.  For  a  long  time  I  hesitated ;  at  length  I 
underook  to  prepare  them  for  the  sad  tidings,  by  writing 
that  you  had  arrived,  but  was  very  ill.  A  month  later, 
and  I  informed  them  that  you  were  no  better,  and  this 
morning  I  had  determined  to  disclose  to  them  the  whole 
truth.  God  be  praised,  that  cruel  duty  will  be  spared 
me,  and  I  shall  immediately  write  and  relieve  their 
minds  of  all  anxiety." 

The  same  evening  a  letter  was  dispatched  to  the  dis- 
tressed parents  of  Henrietta. 

William  Lebrun  rewarded  the  captain  and  his  wife 
munificently  for  the  care  and  kindness  they  had  bestow- 
ed on  his  niece ;  he  then  hastened  to  conduct  her  to  his 
residence  in  New-Orleans.  It  was  an  antique  but  most 
picturesque  structure,  surmounted  by  a  terrace,  with  a 
double  piazza,  supported  by  small  columns,  extending 
entirely  around  it.  At  the  foot  of  these  columns  im- 
mense boxes  of  laurel-roses,  Virginia  jasmines,  and 
oranges,  perfumed  the  air,  while  the  clematis  and  other 
climbing-plants  clambered  over  the  walls,  and  hung  in 
festoons  from  the  roof.  At  the  rear  of  the  mansion  was 
an  immense  garden,  while  in  front  a  beautiful  lawn  in- 
closed by  an  elegant  iron  railing  extended  down  to  the 
street. 

Henrietta  was  enraptured  with  the  appearance  of  all 
around  her.  Never  had  she  dreamed  of  any  thing  more 
beautiful.  On  entering  the  house,  the  servants,  a  dozen 
slaves,  men  and  women,  assembled  to  pay  their  respects 
to  her.     At  sight  of  these  negroes,  she  experienced  a 


66         '   THE  fisherman's  daughter. 

feeling  of  repulsion  very  natural  after  all  she  had  suf- 
fered in  Africa.  But  reason  quickly  resumed  her  em- 
pire, and  she  received  the  slaves'  salutations  quite  gra- 
ciously, speaking  to  them  with  so  much  affability  and  gen- 
tleness as  at  once  to  prepossess  them  in  her  favor,  and 
assure  them  they  had  found  in  their  new  mistress  a 
friend  and  protector.  Had  they  need  of  protection  with 
such  a  master  as  Mr,  Lebrun,  a  man  who  in  every  respect 
appeared  so  unexceptionably  kind  and  good  ?  This  we 
shall  discover  hereafter. 

An  entire  week  was  spent  in  such  preparations  as 
Henrietta's  arrival  made  necessary.  Delighted  at  having 
her  with  him,  her  uncle,  among  a  score  of  other  things  he 
had  devised  for  his  niece,  insisted  that  she  should  at 
once  select  and  purchase  a  number  of  the  most  elegant 
and  expensive  toilets,  that  she  might  not  find  herself  at 
all  inferior  in  dress  to  other  young  girls  with  whom  she 
would  be  associated. 

"  I  am  rich,  my  dear  child,"  he  insisted,  "  and  I  desire 
you  to  take  the  same  position  my  daughter  would  occupy 
if  I  had  one." 

Therefore,  in  despite  of  all  Henrietta  could  say 
in  favor  of  the  trousseau  bought  in  Havre,  the  costliest 
silk  dresses,  Parisian  hats,  rare  and  costly  jewels,  in  a 
word,  every  thing  was  added  to  her  wardrobe  necessary 
for  sustaining  the  rank  she  was  henceforth  to  assume  in 
society. 

One  circumstance  contributed  greatly  to  increase  Mr. 
Lebrun 's  affection  for  his  niece.  He  expected  to  find  her 
entirely  ignorant  and  uninstructed,  or,  at  least,  with  a  very 
limited  education,  and  destitute  of  all  refinement.     As 


THE   fisherman's   DAUGHTER.  6/ 

his  position  brought  him  in  contact  with  the  oldest  and 
best  families  in  the  South,  he  intended  she  should  be 
educated  before  being  introduced  into  society.  But 
having  had  Leonie  for  her  friend  and  companion,  and 
enjoying  constant  intercourse  with  the  family,  her  man- 
ners, naturally  refined,  had  become  quite  easy  and 
polished ;  besides  this,  her  quick  perception  and  intelli- 
gence had  enabled  her  to  profit  by  the  course  of  reading 
she  had  followed ;  so  that  altogether,  she  was  capable  of 
doing  her  uncle  great  honor. 

The  planter  was  delighted  on  making  this  discovery. 
Instead  of  having  to  engage  in  the  work  of  education 
from  its  foundation,  as  he  had  anticipated  would  be  ne- 
cessary, he  had  only  to  insure  her  a  few  extra  accom- 
plishments.    His  gratification  was  indeed  very  great. 

"  My  dear  Henrietta,"  he  exclaimed,  "  I  had  not  ex- 
pected to  find  you  so  carefully  reared  and  educated.  I 
am  truly  delighted  to  have  you  with  me,  and  believe  me, 
my  dear  child,  you  shall  never  regret  leaving  France,  to 
come  and  live  with  your  old  uncle." 

"My  ^A/ uncle,  indeed  !"  replied  the  young  girl,  smil- 
ing ;  **  then  you  grow  old  at  pleasure,  do  you  ?  You  are 
not  at  all  the  dilapidated  person  you  described  yourself 
to  be  in  your  first  letter  to  my  father.  No,  indeed,  dear 
uncle,  on  the  contrary,  you  are  now  in  the  prime  of  life, 
and  I  am  quite  sure  we  shall  yet  pass  many  long  and 
happy  years  together." 

"  I  dare  not  indulge  in  such  dreams  as  that,  my 
child ;  I  feel  very  old,  and  worn  out ;  but,"  he  added 
hastily,  "we  must  not  dwell  on  that  subject  now." 

And  he  at  once  commenced  describing  the  numerous 


68  THE  fisherman's  daughter. 

fetes  and  entertainments  he  intended  giving  in  honor  of 
the  arrival  of  his  niece.  The  first,  he  decided,  should 
take  place  at  his  country-seat,  called  "  The  Acacias."  In 
order,  therefore,  to  begin  the  necessary  preparations,  and 
issue  the  cards  of  invitation,  he  started  with  Henrietta  at 
once  for  the  plantation. 


CHAPTER   XV. 

VILLA   OF   "  THE   ACACIAS" — THE    OVERSEER   AND    HIS 
WIFE. 

"  The  Acacias"  was  situated  on  the  shores  of  Lake 
Pontchartrain,  in  the  midst  of  a  picturesque  country,  but 
with  nothing  grand  or  imposing  in  the  surrounding 
scenery.  A  few  slight  undulations  alone  broke  the  per- 
fect equality  of  the  level  plain ;  but  groves  of  trees  and 
numerous  beautiful  residences  served  to  relieve  the  mo- 
notony of  the  landscape. 

"  The  Acacias"  was  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  these 
elegant  residences,  and  the  abode  of  every  comfort  and 
luxury.  The  mansion  was  surrounded  by  immense  gar- 
dens, beyond  which  verdant  fields  and  meadows  extend- 
ed as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach.  On  one  side  of  the 
house  there  was  a  thick  grove,  which  afforded  an  agreea- 
ble shade  during  the  hottest  portion  of  the  day.  The 
ground  now  occupied  by  the  gardens  had  fonnerly 
been  covered  by  a  vast  morass ;  this  swamp  Mr.  Lebrun 
had  thoroughly  drained,  and  the  water  thus  collected 
formed  an  artificial  lake  in  the  centre ;  thus,  while  re- 
moving a  source  of  malarious  diseases,  he  had  created  a 
most  useful  and  agreeable  object,  in  the  form  of  this 
well-stocked  fish-pond. 


70  THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER. 

This  mansion,  built  in  a  style  similar  to  the  one  in 
the  city,  was  approached  by  a  magnificent  avenue  of 
acacias,  from  which  the  villa  had  taken  its  name. 

Henrietta  was  transported  with  wondering  admiration 
at  the  splendors  surrounding  her.  "  If  only  my  beloved 
parents  were  near  me,  how  happy  I  should  be  in  this 
lovely  place  !"  she  exclaimed  mentally. 

The  planter  and  his  niece  were  received  at  "  The 
Acacias"  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edwards.  Edwards  was  a 
man  nearly  forty  years  of  age.  His  real  character  it  was 
difficult  to  define.  His  countenance  wore  an  expression 
of  excessive  animation,  and  seemed  to  beam  with  since- 
rity; but  a  sinister  expression  lurked  in  his  gray  eye, 
which,  with  a  constant  habit  of  compressing  his  lips,  left 
the  impression  that  Edwards  was  an  arrant  hypocrite, 
and  the  mobility  of  his  countenance  only  assumed  in 
order  to  render  his  real  character  more  impenetrable. 

Tall,  muscular,  and  robust,  there  was  something  in 
the  appearance  of  the  man  reminding  one  of  a  wild 
animal,  restrained  in  his  instincts.  He  constantly  car- 
ried a  walking-cane  or  riding-whip  in  his  hand ;  his 
dress  was  always  faultless;  and  altogether,  a  considerable 
degree  of  perspicacity  was  necessary  in  order  to  form  a 
correct  opinion  of  the  man. 

His  wife  was  about  thirty  years  of  age,  but  still  re- 
tained a  considerable  degree  of  beauty,  something  very 
unusual  with  the  Creoles,  who  generally  fade  very  soon. 
Her  manners  were  affable,  and  her  voice  sweet.  Unfor- 
tunately, beneath  this  exterior  graciousness,  she  conceal- 
ed a  wicked  and  malignant  heart.  Edwards,  therefore, 
found  in  her  an  active  and  earnest  coadjutor,  in  the  ac- 


THE   fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  /I 

compHshment  of  all  the  cruelties  he  felt  disposed  to  ex- 
ercise toward  the  slaves. 

This  man  and  his  wife  were  acquainted  with  Mr.  Le- 
brun  when  he  purchased  "The  Acacias."  Of  a  generous 
and  confiding  nature,  the  planter  was  easily  imposed  on 
by  their  protestations  of  devotion,  and  installed  them,  as 
Ave  have  stated  before,  the  one  as  his  overseer,  the  other 
as  lady  of  the  house. 

Mr.  Lebrun's  health  being  quite  feeble,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  fatigues  and  exposure  of  his  early  life,  he 
was  unable  to  give  personal  attention  to  his  affairs,  and, 
regarding  Edwards  more  as  a  reliable  friend  than  a  paid 
hireling,  he  invested  him  with  full  power  to  manage  every 
thing  about  the  plantation,  in  his  own  way. 

Edwards  and  his  wife  confidently  expected  to  influ- 
ence the  planter  to  such  an  extent  that  his  entire  fortune 
would  ultimately  come  into  their  possession.  In  the 
mean  time,  they  took  every  advantage  their  position  ren- 
dered available,  and  neglected  nothing  that  would  enable 
them  to  appropriate,  without  exciting  suspicion,  large 
sums  of  money  to  their  own  benefit.  The  furious  disap- 
pointment of  these  people  may  be  imagined  on  learning 
that  Mr.  Lebrun  intended  leaving  his  property  to  his 
family,  and,  in  execution  of  this  design,  had  already  sent 
a  large  amount  of  money  to  his  brother,  with  the  request 
that  his  daughter  would  come  and  make  her  home  with 
him.  The  report  of  the  young  girl's  death,  however,  had 
entirely  reassured  them :  they  henceforth  counted  on 
readily  accomplishing  their  designs  through  the  generous 
and  too  confiding  nature  of  their  employer.     Their  con- 


^2  THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER. 

Sterna tion  was  indeed  great  when  the  young  girl  arrived, 
and  her  adoption  by  her  uncle  became  a  fixed  fact. 

"We  must  be  very  cautious,"  suggested  Mrs.  Ed- 
wards, who  was  the  first  to  recover  from  the  stunning 
effect  of  their  amazement.  "  Mr.  Lebrun  must  never 
suspect  that  the  arrival  of  his  niece  has  in  any  manner 
disconcerted  our  plans.  Once  this  girl  is  established 
here,  it  will  be  strange,  indeed,  if  I  can  not  succeed  in 
prejudicing  her  uncle  against  her.  And  it  will  be  no- 
thing more  than  simple  justice  to  ourselves,  either.  For 
eight  years  we  have  been  working  to  increase  the  reve- 
nues of  the  plantation,  and  is  it  not  owing  to  you  entire- 
ly, that  this  foolish  old  man  has  been  able  to  make  a 
single  good  investment .'  And  to  think  of  all  the  fruit  of 
our  labor  at  last  going  into  the  hands  of  these  strangers, 
who  will  deliberately  kick  us  out  of  doors,  under  the 
pretext  of  their  being  j-elations  of  the  proprietor.  Now, 
all  this  must  be  considered  and  prevented ;  but  we  shall 
have  to  proceed  very  cautiously." 

"Yes,"  replied  her  husband,  with  a  sinister  and  ma- 
lignant smile;  "we  shall  have  to  be  prudent." 

It  was  with  their  hearts  filled  with  such  designs  and 
reflections,  that  the  overseer  and  his  wife  went  out  to  re- 
ceive Henrietta. 

They  were  prodigal  in  their  exclamations  of  joy  at 
her  unexpected  arrival,  and  overwhelmed  her  with  de- 
monstrations of  welcome;  but  Henrietta  replied  in  a 
slightly  restrained  though  amiable  manner,  as  it  seemed 
to  her  Mrs.  Edwards  put  rather  too  much  warmth  in 
her  protestations. 

The  slaves  again  assembled,  as  they  had  done  in  the 


THE   FISHERxMAN  S   DAUGHTER.  73 

city,  to  pay  their  respects  to  their  new  mistress.  The 
retinue  of  house-servants  was  not  less  than  thirty.  In 
all  slave  countries,  and  especially  in  Louisiana,  domestics 
are  very  numerous,  and  generally  those  employed  as 
house-servants  exclusively  are  not  ill-treated.  The 
work  being  divided  among  a  great  number,  is  compara- 
tively light,  and  fewer  occasions  offered  exposing  them  to 
the  caprices  or  ill-temper  of  their  owners.  They  are 
also  sufficiently  well  fed,  and  comfortably  clothed ;  but 
the  miserable  field-hands,  entirely  abandoned  to  the 
cruel  authority  of  an  inhuman  overseer,  are  driven  out, 
half-naked,  and  compelled  to  accomplish  the  most  ardu- 
ous tasks,  in  spite  of  sickness,  hunger,  or  the  inclemency 
of  the  weather.  Even  though  they  should  fall,  fainting 
from  pain  and  exhaustion,  they  are  forced  to  rise,  and 
under  the  lash  to  move  on  and  perform  their  appointed 
tasks.  No  words  can  convey  an  adequate  idea  of  the 
wretched  condition  of  the  slaves,  on  the  majority  of 
Southern  plantations, 

Edwards  and  his  wife,  both  Creoles,  and  imbued  as 
Creoles  usually  are,  with  bitter  prejudices  against  the  ne- 
gro, treated  them  with  the  most  revolting  cruelty  on  all 
occasions  when  they  were  sure  their  conduct  would  not 
be  discovered  by  Mr.  Lebrun.  If  by  chance,  the  com- 
plaints of  one  of  the  miserable  creatures  reached  the  ears 
of  the  planter,  Edwards  would  adroitly  misrepresent  the 
facts,  prove  those  who  had  preferred  the  charges  to  be 
"impudent  liars,"  and  as  soon  as  the  attention  of  Mr. 
Lebrun  was  diverted,  would  secretly  revenge  himself  for 
the  trouble  his  victim  had  caused  him. 

Thus  the  blacks,  when   summoned  to  pay  their  re- 


74  THE   FISHERMAN  S   DAUGHTER. 

spects  to  Henrietta,  were  in  no  hurry  to  make  their  ap- 
pearance, expecting  to  find  in  this  new  mistress  but 
another  instrument  of  cruelty  and  oppression ;  but  the 
sweet  countenance  of  the  young  girl,  and  the  deeply 
compassionate  expression  beaming  from  her  eyes,  pro- 
duced the  same  effect  on  the  slaves  at  "  The  Acacias,"  as 
had  been  done  on  those  in  New-Orleans;  they  fondly 
believed  they  had  found  in  their  new  mistress  a  protec- 
tress and  friend,  and  a  ray  of  hope  shone  suddenly  into 
their  hearts,  and  lightened  up  their  dusky  faces  with  an 
expression  of  unusual  joy. 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

ANXIETY   OF   HENRIETTA'S   PARENTS — THREE    LETTERS  AT 
THE   SAME  TIME. 

Apprehension  and  sorrow  reigned  supreme  in  White 
Cottage.  The  first  letter  of  William  Lebrun  had  been 
received,  announcing  the  pretended  malady  of  Henrietta, 
and  from  that  time,  nothing  had  come  to  console  the 
afflicted  parents.  "  No  doubt  but  she  is  dead  !"  exclaim- 
ed Margaret,  weeping.  "  O  my  God  !  why  did  we  ever 
let  her  leave  us?" 

Anthony  was  of  his  wife's  opinion ;  but,  unwilling  to 
add  to  her  afflictions,  he  avoided  expressing  his  real 
sentiments. 

An  atmosphere  of  quiet  happiness  had  heretofore 
pervaded  White  Cottage ;  the  last  generous  donation  of 
William  having  been  judiciously  employed,  they  were 
enabled  to  live  in  ease  and  abundance,  and  were  cheerful 
and  contented. 

Not  willing  to  risk  again  losing  all  he  possessed, 
Anthony  had  commenced  by  first  paying  his  debts,  and 
that  important  duty  accomplished,  he  placed  the  rest 
of  the  money  in  Bertin's  bank. 

The  fisherman's  health  no  longer  permitting  him  to 


•J^  THE   FISHERMAN'S   DAUGHTER. 

follow  the  sea,  he  passed  the  greater  portion  of  his  time 
in  looking  after  his  little  property,  which  every  day  in- 
creased in  value.  When  the  desire  of  going  to  sea  could 
no  longer  be  resisted,  he  would  obtain  a  position,  and 
make  a  voyage  on  the  boat  of  some  one  of  his  old 
friends,  who  always  gave  him  a  hearty  welcome. 

In  this  way,  the  time  had  passed  peacefully  and  plea- 
santly by.  But  now,  fearing  that  Henrietta  no  longer 
lived,  Anthony  and  Margaret  constantly  reproached 
themselves  for  the  blessings  they  enjoyed ;  the  cup  of 
happiness  had  indeed  become  embittered,  which  they 
imagined  had  been  purchased  with  the  life  of  their  de- 
voted child.  Besides  this,  they  were  also  very  anxious 
on  account  of  Celestin.  A  year  had  passed  since  the 
youth  left  Havre,  and  yet  not  a  word  had  been  received 
from  him  to  reassure  his  parents. 

Therefore,  notwithstanding  the  amiable  efforts  of 
Emily,  who  endeavored  to  take  the  place  of  her  elder 
sister,  and  the  affectionate  caresses  of  the  lovely  little 
Henry,  life  had  become  very  sad  to  the  distressed 
parents  at  White  Cottage.  It  was  toward  the  close  of  the 
month  of  January,  when  at  last  the  long-desired  letters 
arrived ;  and  there  were  three  at  the  same  time.  The 
first  that  met  his  eager  glance  was  from  William  Lebrun  : 
he  opened  it  hurriedly,  to  find  his  worst  fears  confirmed  ! 
This,  it  will  be  remembered,  was  the  second  letter  writ- 
ten by  the  planter,  announcing  the  continued  and  dan- 
gerous illness  of  Henrietta.  It  chanced  to  arrive  at  the 
same  time  with  the  one  the  young  girl  and  her  uncle  had 
written  from  New-Orleans. 

Anthony,  in  his  perplexity  to  decide  how  to  break 


THE   fisherman's   DAUGHTER.  "jy 

the  news  of  the  great  calamity  that  threatened  them  to 
his  wife,  held  the  three  letters  mechanically  in  his  trem- 
bling hand.  One  of  them  fell  to  the  ground  without  his 
observing  it,  and  was  picked  up  by  Margaret,  who  had 
hurried  in  to  inquire  if  any  tidings  had  at  last  been  re- 
ceived from  their  child.  As  she  took  up  the  letter,  a 
cry  of  joy  escaped  her  lips ;  she  recognized  in  the  super- 
scription the  handwriting  of  Henrietta. 

"God  be  praised!"  she  cried,  "my  daughter  still 
lives!"  And  overcome  with  emotion,  she  fell  into  a 
chair,  almost  deprived  of  consciousness. 

Hearing  her  explanation,  Anthony  was  bewildered 
with  astonishment. 

"What  does  this  mean?"  he  cried,  "is  it  not  true 
then  V  And  seizing  the  letter  Margaret  had  picked  up, 
he  opened  it,  and  hurriedly  turned  to  the  signature  and 
date.  The  latter,  he  discovered,  was  more  recent  than 
that  of  the  letter  he  had  just  read  from  William  Lebrun. 

At  the  same  moment,  the  happy  father  observed  that 
the  third  letter  still  remaining  in  his  hand  was  from 
Celestin.  Therefore,  both  the  dear  children  for  whom 
he  had  so  much  feared,  still  lived. 

Anthony  and  Margaret  shed  tears  of  joy,  as  with 
overflowing  hearts  they  clasped  Emily  and  Henry  in 
their  arms;  in  them,  it  seemed,  they  embraced  the 
absent. 

When  the  first  emotion  had  subsided,  Anthony  pro- 
ceeded to  read  the  letters.  He  commenced  with  the  one 
from  Henrietta,  as  on  her  account  they  had  suffered  the 
greatest  anxiety.  After  a  thousand  affectionate  messa- 
ges addressed  to  her  parents,  brothers,  and  sister,  she  re- 


78  THE  fisherman's  daughter. 

lated  the  various  incidents  attending  her  voyage,  her  safe 
arrival,  at  length,  in  New-Orleans,  and  concluded  thus  : 

"  My  uncle,  it  seems  to  me,  is  the  personification  of 
all  that  is  good,  and  I  am  sure  I  shall  be  very  happy  with 
him.  But  oh  !  how  much  I  miss  you  !  All  of  you,  my 
dearest  father,  my  beloved  mother,  Emily,  and  my  pre- 
cious little  godson,  and  dear  Celestin  !  No  words  can 
express  my  intense  longing  to  see  you.  But  let  us  hope 
the  time  will  soon  arrive  when  we  shall  again  be  united, 
and  have  dear  uncle  also  with  us.  Then  we  shall  in- 
deed be  too  happy  !" 

The  feelings  of  Anthony  and  Margaret  may  be  imag- 
ined on  reading  this  letter.  Their  beloved  Henrietta 
was  alive  and  well,  and  looking  forward  to  a  bright  and 
happy  future  in  her  new  home.  What  joy  this  assur- 
ance brought  to  their  hearts ! 

Anthony  then  read  Celestin 's  letter.  The  youth  had 
written  but  a  few  lines,  having  to  take  advantage  of  a 
vessel  they  had  encountered  returning  to  France.  But 
Celestin  wrote  that  he  was  well;  that  he  gave  perfect 
satisfaction  to  his  employers,  and  hoped  very  soon  to  be 
promoted ;  this  was  the  most  important  news  it  con- 
tained. 

The  day  sped  rapidly  away,  passed  in  cheerful  con- 
versation, and  a  thousand  comments  on  the  good  news 
they  had  received  were  indulged  in ;  nor  did  they  forget 
to  communicate  the  joyful  tidings  immediately  to  Ma- 
dame Hermier  and  her  daughter.  They  well  merited  this 
attention ;  for  both  had  more  than  amply  fulfilled  the 
promise  made  Henrietta  on  her  departure.  Anthony 
and  Margaret  had  been  constantly  sustained  and  com- 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  79 

forted  in  their  afflictions  by  the  kind  attention  and  con- 
soling words  of  Madame  Hermier  and  Leonie. 

It  was  with  glad  hearts,  at  the  hour  when  they  were 
sure  of  finding  the  ladies  at  home,  that  all  the  fisher- 
man's family  went  over  to  the  Elms. 

Leonie  and  her  mother  were  truly  delighted  to  hear 
the  consoling  news  brought  them.  Absence  had  not  di- 
minished the  affectionate  regard  with  which  Henrietta 
had  inspired  them,  and  Celestin  had  attracted  their 
favorable  notice  by  going,  so  young,  to  labor  for  the 
purpose  of  assisting  his  parents. 

"  You  see  now,"  said  Madame  Hermier,  "  that  I  was 
right  in  telling  you  to  hope  on  and  not  to  despair,  even 
though  matters  might  look  gloomy.  I  felt  perfectly  sure 
the  good  Lord  had  eventually  in  store  for  you  joy  and 
consolation.  See  how  visibly  He  has  protected  Hen- 
rietta !  I  shudder  at  the  thought  of  the  fearful  dangers 
she  has  passed  through ;  but  they  are  all  over  now, 
and  henceforth  anxieties  and  apprehensions  are  at  an 
end  !  One  of  these  days  your  daughter  will  return  to 
you  rich  and  happy,  and  secure  the  fortune  of  the 
whole  family," 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

ELLEN  McDOUGALL — AN   UNEXPECTED  MEETING. 

As  time  passed  on,  Mr.  Lebrun  congratulated  him- 
self every  day,  more  and  more,  on  having  his  niece  with 
hijn-.  He  now  had  a  gentle,  good,  and  most  amiable 
companion,  always  ready  to  do  every  thing  for  his  com- 
fort and  pleasure. 

Henrietta  exerted  every  faculty  to  the  utmost  to  pro- 
fit by  the  lessons  her  uncle  had  engaged  she  should  take 
in  different  branches.  She  was  thus  enabled  to  complete 
her  education,  and  also  acquire  a  number  of  agreeable 
accomplishments,  which  became,  for  herself  and  her  un- 
cle, a  constant  source  of  pleasure.  But  we  must  not 
anticipate. 

Six  months  had  already  passed  since  the  young  girl's 
arrival  at  New-Orleans.  Gentle  and  compassionate  as 
she  naturally  was,  she  had  made  more  than  one  discovery 
that  pained,  and  forced  her  to  use  all  her  influence  to 
bring  about  a  number  of  reforms  on  the  plantation. 

She  was  not  long  in  discovering  that  Mrs.  Edwards 
was  very  cruel  in  her  treatment  of  the  servants  employ- 
ed about  the  house,  and  her  husband  still  more  brutal 
toward  those  working  in  the  fields. 


THE  fisherman's   DAUGHTER.  8l 

She  had  accidentally  been  a  witness  to  the  barba- 
rous punishments  inflicted  on  some  of  the  slaves,  and 
that,  very  often,  for  the  most  trivial  offenses. 

As  has  been  already  stated,  there  were  at  least  thirty 
servants  employed  about  the  house.  Among  them,  Mrs. 
Edwards's  maids,  Betty  and  Malcy,  who  had  charge  of 
the  linen,  were  the  housekeeper's  principal  drudges. 
They  were  two  bright  and  graceful  quadroons,  with  the 
most  cheerful  and  obliging  dispositions.  Both  of  these 
girls  had  been  reared  in  one  of  the  best  Southern  fami- 
lies, and  had  acquired  by  their  training  a  refinement  of 
manner  and  a  style  of  expression  and  conversation  very 
far  superior  to  others  of  their  color  and  condition. 

From  the  first,  Henrietta  had  taken  them  especially 
into  favor,  and  it  often  happened  that,  under  pretext  of 
giving  them  an  order  or  something  to  do,  she  had 
retained  them  to  talk  with  her. 

Mrs.  Edwards,  for  a  long  time  exceedingly  provoked 
at  the  generous  condescension  of  the  young  girl,  had  re- 
solved to  bring  the  subject  to  the  attention  of  her  uncle 
in  a  way  to  excite  his  disapprobation  ;  but  she  conclud- 
ed to  wait  until  the  planter  would  no  longer  be  under 
the  influence  of  the  joy  with  which  the  arrival  of  his 
niece  had  inspired  him. 

But  that  moment  seemed  long  in  approaching,  Mr, 
Lebrun  every  day  appeared  to  take  more  pleasure  in,  and 
become  more  devoted  to,  the  society  of  his  niece.  He 
seemed  never  to  tire  of  walking  with  her,  showing  her 
the  beauties  of  the  country,  and  still  more,  of  giving  the 
most  splendid  entertainments,  on  which  occasions  he 
enjoyed  the  admiration  excited  by  his  niece,  whom  all 


8'2  THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER. 

united  in  pronouncing  a  most  charming  and  beautiful 
girl. 

Never  forgetting  her  humble  origin,  and  having  too 
much  good  sense  to  feel  elated  by  the  fortune  she  would 
inherit  from  her  uncle,  she  conducted  herself  with  such 
perfect  modesty  and  graceful  affability,  so  far  removed 
from  the  proud  haughtiness  generally  affected  by  the 
Creoles,  and  a  vivacity  and  sprightliness  in  such  contrast 
with  their  languid  indolence  of  manner,  that  soon,  rap- 
turous praises  of  the  "  charming  young  French  girl  " 
were  in  the  mouths  of  every  one. 

Henrietta,  while  she  received  in  the  most  gracious 
manner  the  advances  made  by  the  young  ladies  to  whom 
she  had  been  introduced,  became  intimate  with  but  one ; 
and  in  this  one  she  believed  she  discovered  all  the  ele- 
ments essential  in  a  true  and  sincere  friend. 

Ellen  McDougall — for  such  was  the  name  of  Henriet- 
ta's new  friend — had  just  completed  her  fifteenth  year ; 
the  two  girls  were  consequently  near  the  same  age. 

The  daughter  of  Irish  parents,  who  had  left  their 
country  to  escape  religious  persecution,  Ellen's  habits 
and  aspirations  were  similar  to  those  of  Henrietta ;  and 
sensible  as  she  was  of  the  value  of  time,  she  endeavored 
to  spend  it  usefully  and  improve  every  moment  as  far 
as  was  in  her  power. 

The  intimacy  of  these  two  young  girls  being  approv- 
ed by  their  friends,  soon  became  firmly  cemented; 
and  the  residence  of  Ellen's  parents  being  near  The 
Acacias,  they  saw  each  other  very  often. 

One  day,  Henrietta  had  gone  to  visit  her  friend,  and 
on  entering  the  parlor,  before  having  time  to  recognize 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  83 

who  it  was,  she  found  herself  clasped  in  the  arms  of  a 
lady,  who  embraced  her  with  the  most  rapturous  and 
joyful  exclamations. 

Partially  recovered  from  her  astonishment,  the  young 
girl  in  her  turn  exclaimed  aloud,  on  recognizing  Ma- 
dame Delmont. 

"  If  you  were  my  own  child,"  said  the  delighted  wo- 
man, "  I  could  not  be  more  sincerely  happy  at  seeing 
you  again  !"  And  she  wept  with  joy ;  and  laughing  and 
crying  together,  asked  a  thousand  questions,  and  begged 
to  be  informed  "  by  what  miracle  the  dear  child  had 
escaped  death." 

Henrietta  willingly  consented  to  gratify  her,  and 
gave  a  detailed  account  of  her  adventures. 

"Ah!"  exclaimed  Madame  Delmont, when  the  young 
girl  had  finished  her  narrative,  "  God  only  knows  what  I 
have  suffered,  and  how  unceasingly  and  bitterly  I  have 
reproached  myself  for  having  lost  sight  of  you  for  an  in- 
stant !  But  you  are  alive  and  here,  and  all  is  well.  And 
now  promise  me  you  will  bear  no  malice  against  me,  but 
come  often  to  my  house.  I  reside  at  the  Cottage,  a 
plantation  scarcely  fifteen  miles  from  this  of  Mr.  Le- 
brun's.  I  shall  be  charmed  to  see  you,  and  my  children 
will  be  more  than  delighted  to  embrace  you ;  they  loved 
you  so  dearly  !" 

Henrietta  promised  all  that  Madame  Delmont  re- 
quested. 

"  It  was  only  this  moment,"  continued  the  latter, 
"  that  Mrs.  McDougall  informed  me  of  your  arrival.  I 
could  not  believe  my  own  senses,  and  feared  there  might 
be  some  mistake  in  name  or  person.     Yes,  my  dear  Henri- 


84  THE  fisherman's  daughter. 

etta,  I  assure  you  again  that,  were  you  my  own  daughter, 
I  could  not  be  more  delighted  at  this  meeting." 

The  day  was  a  charming  one  for  Henrietta;  Ellen 
and  her  parents,  together  with  Madame  Delmont,  sur- 
rounding her  with  so  many  kind  attentions  that  she  found 
herself  wondering  what  she  had  done  to  merit  so  many 
proofs  of  affection.  Her  modesty  and  humility  prevent- 
ed her  from  recognizing  that  to  her  own  virtuous  quali- 
ties and  amiable  dispositions  she  was  alone  indebted 
for  the  popularity  she  enjoyed. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

HENRIETTA'S     LIFE    AT    "THE    ACACIAS." 

The  letters  written  by  the  absent  daughter  contain- 
ed all  such  details  as  she  thought  would  be  interesting 
to  her  parents,  and  often  those  letters  grew  to  an  enor- 
mous length.  Among  others,  one  written  about  six 
months  after  her  arrival  at  New-Orleans,  seems  to  us  too 
interesting  to  be  withheld  from  our  readers ;  we  there- 
fore give  it.     The  letter  ran  as  follows : 

"Villa  of  The  Acacias,  May,  184 — 
"  My  Dear  Father  and  Mother  :  The  mail-boat 
will  not  leave  for  ten  days  yet,  but  I  will  take  advantage 
of  the  time  before  me,  and  commence  my  letter.  This 
is  the  way  I  have  been  in  the  habit  of  doing ;  other- 
wise, I  should  always  have  to  write  so  hurriedly,  it  would 
not  give  me  time  to  say  to  my  dear  parents  one  half 
as  much  as  I  would  wish. 

"  Heretofore,  I  have  not  spoken  to  you  of  myself  par- 
ticularly ;  but  I  shall  now  endeavor  to  repair  the  neglect 
with  which  you  reproach  me  on  that  account. 

"  Could  you  but  look  from  White  Cottage  and  behold 
your  Henrietta,  you  would  scarcely  be  able  to  recognize 
her.     It  is  my  uncle's  desire  that  I  should  always  be 


86  THE   fisherman's   DAUGHTER. 

dressed  in  the  height  of  the  fashion,  consequently  my 
wardrobe  is  munificently  replenished.  I  have  the  most 
elegant  silks,  the  costliest  cashmeres,  exquisite  India 
muslins,  as  light  as  a  cloud,  and  all  kinds  of  expensive 
and  beautiful  jewelry.  But  this  does  not  render  me 
happy,  so  long  as  I  must  be  separated  from  my  beloved 
parents  and  my  dear  sister  and  brothers.  However,  I 
now  have  reason  to  believe  our  reunion  will  take  place 
much  sooner  than  I  had  dared  to  hope  before. 

"  My  good  uncle  has  been  quite  indisposed  recently, 
but  is  at  present  much  better.  I  am  now  entirely  con- 
vinced that  he  said  but  the  truth,  in  writing  you  lie  had 
'grown  old  in  advance  of  his  years.'  Poor  dear  uncle  ! 
his  constitution  is  so  completely  broken  down  by  expos- 
ure and  hardships  endured  in  early  life  that  the  intense 
heat  of  this  debilitating  climate  wears  dreadfully  upon 
him.  His  physician  constantly  insists  that  a  change  is 
necessary ;  but  he  is  so  much  attached  to  this  country, 
he  imagines  that  to  leave  it  and  be  compelled  to  change 
all  his  habits  of  life  would  be  unendurable. 

"  Therefore,  I  scarcely  dare  yet  to  speak  of  our  re- 
turn to  France,  fearing  uncle  might  think  we  desired  to 
get  possession  of  his  property.  O  my  dear  parents !  if 
he  could  only  imagine  how  delighted  we  would  all  be  to 
have  him  in  our  midst,  even  though  he  had  nothing  to 
leave  us !  I  know  your  feelings  perfectly  well  on  this 
subject,  and  my  great  desire  is  to  furnish  my  uncle  with 
a  delicate  proof  of  those  sentiments.  The  greatest  obsta- 
cle will  be  the  breaking  up  of  old  habits  and  customs, 
now  become  second  nature,  and  which  have,  until  this 
time,  alone  prevented  him  from  returning  to  France. 


THE  fisherman's   DAUGHTER.  8/ 

"  I  believe  I  have  never  yet  given  you  a  description 
or  *  pen-portrait '  of  Uncle  William.  Well,  he  is  tall,  and 
rather  spare ;  but  his  appearance,  nevertheless,  is  quite 
robust.  His  hair  is  gray,  with  barely  a  few  dark  locks 
clustering  about  the  temples.  His  eyes  are  brown,  and 
beam  with  an  expression  of  benevolence  and  genuine 
goodness.  His  forehead  is  broad  and  high ;  his  man- 
ner slightly  formal,  but,  notw^ithstanding  this  stateliness, 
quite  gracious.  Every  thing  about  him,  in  fact,  is  cal- 
culated to  inspire  confidence,  affection,  and  respect. 

"  I  can  not  begin  to  tell  you  all  the  kind  and  generous 
attentions  he  lavishes  on  me.  My  least  desires  are  grati- 
fied, my  slightest  wish  is  law.  I  have  entirely  at  my  ser- 
vice two  mulatto  slaves ;  another  one,  my  maid,  a  quad- 
roon ;  and  a  little  groom,  as  black  as  ebony,  whose  duty 
is  to  attend  me  when  I  ride  in  the  carriage  or  on  horse- 
back ;  for  I  must  inform  you,  my  dear  parents,  that 
horseback  riding  has  also  been  added  to  the  number  of 
my  accomplishments.  It  was  uncle's  desire  that  I 
should  become  an  expert  horsewoman,  in  order  that  I 
might  accompany  him  in  his  morning  rides  over  the 
plantation.  Besides  this,  I  have  been  taking  music  les- 
sons; and  commence  already  to  play  passably  well  on 
the  piano ;  I  practice  also  on  the  harp,  and  am  receiving 
instruction  in  drawing  and  painting. 

"  I  would  be  glad  to  make  myself  useful  in  the  family, 
by  taking  charge  of  the  household  affairs ;  but  to  this 
uncle  is  decidedly  opposed.  In  this  country,  the  chil- 
dren of  the  rich  have  nothing  to  do,  except  dress,  visit, 
and  amuse  themselves ;  all  work  is  left  to  the  slaves.  I 
assure  you  the   young   girls   of   my  acquaintance  here 


88  THE  fisherman's  daughter. 

are  constantly  astonished  at  seeing  me  always  occupied. 
But  I  endeavor  to  retain  the  industrious  habits  taught 
me  by  my  dear  mother,  and  try,  as  far  as  is  in  my  power, 
never  to  waste  a  moment  of  time. 

"  I  have  already  spoken  to  you,  I  believe,  of  my  espe- 
cial favorite,  Ellen  McDougall.  I  have  not  been  disap- 
pointed in  the  character  of  this  young  girl,  and  think 
myself  fortunate  in  possessing  such  a  friend. 

"  Besides  the  pain  of  being  so  far  from  you,  my  beloved 
parents,  there  is  but  one  other  impediment  to  the  perfect 
happiness  I  should  otherwise  enjoy  here,  and  that  is,  I 
am  compelled  so  often  to  witness  scenes  which  to  me  are 
most  revolting.  You  can  form  no  idea  of  the  cruelty 
and  injustice  with  which  the  slaves  are  treated;  and 
what  I  can  least  comprehend  is,  that  even  young  girls,  the 
most  refined  and  delicate  seemingly,  often  display  the 
greatest  cruelty  toward  these  unhappy  creatures. 

"  Mrs.  Edwards,  the  overseer's  wife,  is  a  heartless  wo- 
man, and  her  conduct  with  legard  to  the  negroes  is  real- 
ly barbarous.  It  is  on  this  account  that  I  have  lost  all 
confidence  in  and  respect  for  her.  I  may  be  mistaken, 
but  I  believe  her  to  be  a  very  great  hypocrite.  She  ne- 
ver lets  my  uncle  see  her  whip  or  otherwise  mistreat  the 
slaves ;  she  would  not  dare  do  it.  But,  unfortunately, 
he  can  not  be  always  present,  and  she  takes  advantage, 
on  every  occasion,  of  his  absence  to  have  the  most  se- 
vere and  unmerited  punishments  inflicted  upon  her  mis- 
erable victims. 

"  A  number  of  times  already  I  have  tried  to  make  this 
woman  and  her  husband  understand  how  shocking  their 
conduct  appeared  to  me,  and  that  I  should  be  compelled 


THE   fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  89 

to  inform  my  uncle.  The  malice  and  vindictiveness, 
since  displayed  in  their  expression  and  manner,  has  al- 
most made  me  tremble  for  my  own  safety.  I  know  not 
why  it  is,  but  I  should  like  to  be  away  from  these  two 
persons. 

"  One  morning,  quite  recently,  just  as  I  was  leaving 
my  chamber,  I  heard  a  piercing  shriek  proceeding  from 
the  end  of  the  piazza  which  extends  across  the  front  of 
the  house.  The  cry  so  alarmed  me  that  without  reflec- 
tion I  immediately  rushed  on  in  the  direction  from 
whence  it  seemed  to  proceed ;  and  there  I  found  a  little 
negro  boy,  about  six  years  old,  on  his  knees  before  Mrs. 
Edwards.  On  seeing  me,  her  face  turned  crimson,  and, 
trembling  with  lage,  she  hurriedly  ordered  the  child  to 
get  up.  The  poor  little  creature  obeyed,  and  as  he  stag- 
gered to  his  feet,  I  saw  with  horror  a  deep  gash  cut  on 
his  forehead,  from  which  a  stream  of  blood  poured  over 
his  face. 

"  *  What  does  this  mean  ?  '  I  cried.  *  What  is  the  mat- 
ter with  this  child  ?  ' 

"  '  Nothing  at  all,'  replied  Mrs.  Edwards,  in  a  curt,  an- 
gry voice.  *  Wilkie,  in  carrying  the  flowers  to  your 
chamber.  Miss  Henrietta,  has  let  the  vase  fall  and  bro- 
ken it.  a  magnificent  porcelain  vase.  I  have  just  been 
scolding  the  awkward  little  blockhead;  he  never  will  be 
careful,  or  do  any  thing  as  he  ought.' 

"  '  But  that  cut  on  his  forehead  .'  '  I  insisted,  '  how  did 
that  happen .'' ' 

"  '  In  falling,  he  struck  his  head  on  a  piece  of  the  bro- 
ken vase.' 

"At  this  reply,  the  expression  of  the  child's  eyes  so 


90  THE  fisherman's   DAUGHTER. 

plainly  told  that  Mrs.  Edwards  had  uttered  a  falsehood 
that  I  could  not  refrain  from  saying, 

"  *  No,  Mrs.  Edwards,  that  is  not  so ;  you  have  struck 
this  child.' 

"  She  would  have  protested,  but  at  the  same  instant  I 
perceived  hidden  among  the  folds  of  her  dress  a  small 
cowhide  covered  with  blood.  The  horror  and  indigna- 
tion with  which  I  was  seized  on  making  this  discovery, 
prevented  me  from  giving  full  vent  to  my  feelings ;  but 
with  an  imperative  gesture,  I  ordered  this  wicked  woman 
to  leave  the  piazza  at  once. 

"  Left  alone  with  the  child,  I  hastened  to  lead  him  to 
my  chamber.  There  I  dressed  his  wound,  and,  in  order  to 
more  entirely  console  and  divert  him,  I  bound  around  his 
head  a  yellow  and  red  plaid  silk  handkerchief.  This  su- 
perb turban,  with  a  paper  of  candy,  rendered  him  perfectly 
happy,  and  oblivious  to  the  pain  of  his  wound. 

"  *  O  Miss  Henrietta  !  '  he  cried,  *  you  are  so  good  ! 
Daddy  Sam  and  Mammy  Cassy  will  be  too  glad,  when 
they  see  me  looking  so  fine.' 

"  Sam  and  Cassy  are  his  parents,  and  are  both  employ- 
ed as  field-hands. 

"  Before  dismissing  the  poor  little  negro,  I  advised  him 
in  future  to  pay  strict  attention  to  all  he  was  told,  and 
do  his  work  so  well  that  he  might  no  more  deserve  to  be 
scolded  or  punished. 

"  *  O  miss  !  it  was  that  bad  Miss  Edwards  who  made 
me  break  the  beautiful  vase,'  he  said  excitedly.  'Be- 
cause I  was  walking  along  very  slow  and  careful ;  then 
she  called  me  a  lazy  dog,  and  give  me  a  hard  push ;  then 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  9I 

I  stumbled,  ma'am,  and  let  the  vase  fall,  and  then  Miss 
Edwards,  she  beat  me  !  ' 

"  Not  wishing  to  blame  the  housekeeper  too  openly,  I 
ended  the  conversation  by  making  no  farther  reply. 

"  At  the  breakfast-table,  that  morning,  I  informed  my 
uncle  of  what  had  occurred ;  but  it  was  very  evident  he 
could  not  credit  the  story  entirely,  and  thought  I  had 
mistaken  some  of  the  facts,  or  misjudged  the  house- 
keeper. 

" '  Mrs.  Edwards  maybe  a  little  too  hasty  and  strict,' 
he  replied,  '  but  she  is  good  at  heart.  Besides,  my  dear 
Henrietta,  you  can  not  imagine  to  what  an  extent  these 
negroes  will  lie,  nor  with  how  many  grains  of  allowance 
their  statements  must  generally  be  received.  Let  us  ex- 
ercise charity  toward  all.  I  find  nothing  in  this  matter 
with  which  to  blame  Mrs.  Edwards  :  let  her  control  the 
negroes  ;  it  is  necessary,  believe  me.' 

"  Since  that  time,  I  have  watched  the  overseer  and  his 
wife  as  closely  as  possible,  but  have,  of  course,  reported 
nothing  more  to  my  uncle. 

"  I  endeavor  to  make  the  lives  of  the  slaves  who  are 
under  my  immediate  direction  as  endurable  as  possible, 
and  they,  being  so  contented  and  happy,  are  envied  by 
all  the  others,  and  every  day  I  am  urged  to  take  more  of 
them  into  my  own  personal  service.  Would  that  it  were 
in  my  power  to  give  all  these  poor  creatures  their  liberty  ! 
They  seem  perfectly  devoted  to  me,  and  I  do  not  believe, 
if  I  had  need  of  their  assistance,  that  they  would  fail  me 
in  any  emergency.  They  wait  on  me  with  the  most 
scrupulous  attention,  and  I  never  have  to  reprove  or  re- 
mind them  of  a  neglected  duty.     When  I   go  out  walk- 


92  ■  THE   FISHERMAN  S   DAUGHTER. 

ing,  one  or  two  of  the  slaves  always  accompany  me,  and 
no  *  guard  of  honor '  could  be  more  polite  and  solicitous. 
I  believe  they  would  be  delighted  if  they  could  relieve 
me  from  even  the  exertion  of  walking.  And  what  have 
I  done  to  merit  all  this  devotion  ?  Nothing,  really  no- 
thing. A  kind  word  when  they  render  me  a  service, 
and  occasionally,  some  little  present ;  I  never  administer 
corporal  punishment  for  a  fault ;  a  reprimand  adapted 
to  the  intelligence  of  these  poor  creatures  is  entirely 
sufificient.  Some  time  ago,  I  got  up  a  project  for  their 
improvement,  which  I  thought  would  be  both  useful  and 
pleasant  for  them  all.  I  obtained  uncle's  consent  for  the 
slaves  to  assemble  every  Sunday  morning  in  one  of  the 
large  rooms  used  for  storing  cotton.  A  priest  from  a 
neighboring  parish  willingly  consented  to  come  and  give 
them  a  short  instruction,  and  when  that  is  finished,  I  ac- 
company a  small  melodeon  with  some  of  our  beautiful 
hymns,  in  singing  which  the  blacks  join  with  the  great- 
est imaginable  enthusiasm  and  fervor. 

"It  has  now  been  two  months  since  these  instructions 
were  commenced.  At  first,  the  project  only  excited  ridi- 
cule; but  uncle  himself  is  obliged  to  see  and  acknowledge 
that,  after  a  Sunday  spent  in  this  manner,  the  slaves  are 
more '  docile,  and  better  disposed  to  work  faithfully. 
Therefore,  I  think  he  is  now  perfectly  satisfied  for  me  to 
continue  my  undertaking. 

"  You  see,  my  dear  parents,  that  I  constantly  endea- 
vor to  act  on  the  advice  I  have  received  from  you,  and 
therefore  lose  no  opportunity  for  doing  an  act  of  charity. 

"  I  had  almost  forgotten  to  relate  you  a  little  adven- 
ture that  happened  to  me  yesterday. 


THE   fisherman's   DAUGHTER.  93 

"  I  was  crossing  a  small  cane-field  to  reach  the  grove 
near  the  house.  Walking  along,  in  an  abstracted  man- 
ner, my  mind  absorbed  with  thoughts  of  France  and 
those  so  dearly  loved  in  my  own  native  home,  I  was  sud- 
denly startled  by  a  piercing  cry,  uttered  quite  near  me, 
and  at  the  same  instant  I  felt  myself  seized  by  the  arms 
from  behind,  and  suddenly  jerked  backward. 

"  In  astonishment  and  alarm,  I  turned  my  head,  and 
beheld  Sam,  silently  pointing  with  his  finger  to  an  enor- 
mous serpent  lying  coiled  in  the  path  before  me.  It  was 
now  my  turn  to  cry  out ;  but  before  I  had  time  to  recover 
from  the  fright,  the  negro  had  already  dispatched  the 
reptile  with  a  blow  from  the  spade  he  carried  in  his  hand. 

"  Truly  grateful  for  his  timely  intervention,  I  tried  to 
make  *  Daddy  Sam '  accept  a  small  reward ;  but  all  in 
vain,  no  persuasion  could  induce  him  to  receive  it, 

"  *  No,  young  mistress,*  he  replied,  '  you  defended  my 
poor  little  boy,  and  took  him  out  of  the  hands  of  that 
wicked  Mrs.  Edwards.  Hereafter,  Sam  belongs  to  you, 
madame ;  he  will  watch  over  you  like  a  faithful  dog,  be- 
lieve me,  he  will  do  it,  young  mistress.' 

"  Now,  is  it  not  singular  to  find  such  gratitude  in  a 
man,  belonging  to  a  race  despised  and  condemned  by  the 
entire  American  nation  to  the  horrible  condition  of 
slavery  ?  What  stronger  argument  could  be  brought 
against  the  injustice  of  this  cruel  institution  .-' 

"  A  people  susceptible  of  so  many  good  impressions, 
and  especially  of  a  sentiment  so  elevated  as  that  of  gra- 
titude, can  not  deserve  to  be  held  in  this  abject  and  de- 
graded condition. 

"  But  to  return  to  my  adventure  with  the  serpent : 


94  THE  FISHERMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

you  must  not  suppose  we  are  constantly  surrounded  by 
such  dangers  here.  Oh  !  no,  very  far  from  it ;  but  were 
the  country  even  as  badly  infested  as  Africa,  I  should  not 
be  afraid.  I  feel  assured  that  God  watches  over  me  in 
an  especial  manner ;  have  I  not  already  received  the 
most  convincing  proofs  of  it  ? 

"But  now,  my  dearest  father  and  mother,  I  must 
leave  you.  Uncle  is  going  to  make  a  short  visit  into  the 
interior  of  the  country,  and  wishes  me  to  accompany 
him.  So  I  must  go  and  make  preparations  for  the  jour- 
ney. 

"  Once  more  I  embrace  you  with  all  my  heart !  You 
know  how  dearly  I  love  you  ;  then  think  of  me  always 
with  the  same  affection,  and  believe  me, 

"  Your  devoted  daughter, 

"  Henrietta." 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

THE  JOURNEY. 

Leaving  Anthony  and  his  family  in  the  enjoyment  of 
the  happiness  caused  by  the  reception  of  Henrietta's  let- 
ter, we  will  follow  the  young  girl  toward  whom  the  most 
grave  and  serious  events  were  now  rapidly  approaching. 

Proud,  as  we  have  said,  of  the  intelligence  and  refine- 
ment of  his  niece,  William  Lebrun  was  never  willing  to 
be  separated  from  her,  and  took  the  greatest  delight  in 
presenting  her  to  his  friends.  The  journey  he  was  about 
to  take  was,  in  fact,  principally  for  her  benefit,  and  to 
secure  him  an  opportunity  of  displaying  the  charms  and 
superior  accomplishments  of  Henrietta. 

For  a  long  time,  the  planter  had  been  promising  visits 
to  numerous  friends,  who  often  came  to  see  him  at  The 
Acacias,  and  had  heretofore  insisted,  in  vain,  on  their 
visits  being  returned.  Wishing  to  procure  his  niece  as 
many  diversions  as  possible,  as  well  as  to  enjoy  the  plea- 
sure of  introducing  her  to  his  friends,  he  resolved  to  ac- 
cept all  the  invitations  he  had  received. 

Mr.  Lebrun  determined  to  travel  in  a  style  suited  to 
his  wealth  and  position.  Henrietta  was  supplied  with  an 
extravagant  outfit,  and  he  took  with  him  a  numerous  re- 
tinue of  servants.     He  intended,  he  said,  that  his  niece 


96  THE  FISHERMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

should  be  the  acknowledged  peer  of  the  wealthiest  young 
girls  in  Louisiana. 

The  most  agreeable  and  convenient  manner  of  tra- 
veling in  the  United  States  is  undoubtedly  by  steam- 
boat on  the  lakes  and  rivers.  These  boats  ply  regularly 
between  the  large  cities  and  towns,  and  are  arranged  and 
furnished  in  the  most  elegant  and  convenient  manner. 

The  utmost  liberty  and  ease  are  permitted  among  the 
passengers,  and  one  may  here  enjoy  all  the  advantages 
of  wealth  without  any  of  its  inconveniences,  as  in  public 
vehicles ;  but  above  every  thing  else,  the  greatest  attrac- 
tion offered  by  this  mode  of  traveling  is  the  admirable 
country  through  which  you  pass.  Nothing  can  convey 
an  idea  of  the  grandeur  and  beauty  of  the  scenery  that 
every  moment  spreads  out  before  you  on  the  banks  of 
these  immense  American  rivers. 

Since  Chateaubriand,  in  his  own  incomparable  style, 
described  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  many  changes 
have  taken  place ;  but  the  spectacle  is  no  less  grand  than 
it  was  in  the  past ;  the  works  of  man  have  not  destroyed 
the  boundless  prospects  which  from  all  points  are  conti- 
nually extended  before  you ;  on  every  side  an  exube- 
rance of  vegetation,  almost  without  a  parallel  in  the 
world,  makes  in  many  places  the  most  veritable  enchant- 
ed gardens.  The  meanderings  of  the  river  and  the  isl- 
ands with  which  it  is  ornamented  offer  scenes  of  ravishing 
beauty  to  the  lovers  of  nature.  To  these  picturesque 
elements,  the  industry  of  man  has  added  its  wonders  ; 
numerous  large  and  flourishing  cities  have  been  built  on 
the  banks  of  the  river,  inhabited  by  the  most  energetic 
and  thriving   populations.     The    stoppages,    constantly 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  9/ 

made  by  the  boats,  afford  travelers  a  view  of  the  life  and 
animation  existing  in  these  growing  cities,  and  varies  the 
panorama  which  unceasingly  passes  before  their  enrap- 
tured vision. 

Accustomed  as  she  had  been  from  infancy  to  behold- 
ing the  sublime  views  of  ocean,  Henrietta  would  natural- 
ly have  been  more  difficult  to  impress  than  others ;  but 
the  novelty  of  all  that  she  saw  exceeded  her  most  bril- 
liant imaginings  and  filled  up  the  measure  of  her  en- 
thusiastic delight. 

As  for  William  Lebrun,  he  was  perfectly  happy ; 
flattered  by  the  favorable  impression  evidently  created 
by  his  niece,  he  had  nothing  more  to  desire. 

"  I  am  never  so  happy  as  when  I  see  they  admire 
you,"  he  said  to  Henrietta  ;  "  you  are  so  attractive,  and 
at  the  same  time  so  modest  and  gentle,  that  every  body 
loves  you,  my  child." 

"  Ah  my  dear  uncle  !"  responded  the  young  girl,  "  I 
desire  the  affection  of  none  but  yourself.  I  assure  you  I 
should  enjoy  far  more  spending  my  days  at  The  Acacias 
with  you  alone,  than  in  the  midst  of  all  the  gayety  and 
festivities  with  which  you  surround  me." 

"  You  should  not  condemn  yourself  to  solitude  and 
seclusion,  when  your  fortune  and  position  make  it  impe- 
ratively your  duty  to  mingle  in  society,"  said  Mr.  Lebrun. 
"  Since  you  are  to  become  a  wealthy  heiress,  I  hope,  be- 
fore I  die,  to  see  you  make  one  of  the  most  eligible  alli- 
ances in  the  country." 

Henrietta  sighed  deeply  at  these  words.  "Ah  !"  she 
exclaimed  mentally,  "  the  only  desire  of  my  heart  is  to 
return  and  live  quietly  with  my  family.     Then  my  poor 


98  THE  fisherman's  daughter. 

father  and  brother  would  no  more  be  compelled  to  go  to 
sea ;  and  we  should  be  but  too  happy  !  And  if  my  dear 
uncle  would  decide  to  come  and  live  with  us,  that  happi- 
ness would  be  still  greater  !" 

Mr.  Lebrun  often  suspected  that  such  reflections  oc- 
cupied the  mind  of  his  niece  ;  but  he  affected  not  to  be 
aware  of  it,  and  never  referred  to  the  subject.  This  was 
not  owing  to  any  feeling  of  indifference  toward  his  fami- 
ly ;  for  he  would  have  been  rejoiced  to  see  them  again  : 
but  he  was  now  entirely  accustomed  to  the  life  of  a 
planter,  and  above  all,  had  become  the  adopted  father  of 
so  devoted  and  lovely  a  child  that  he  had  nothing  more 
to  desire. 

The  journey  he  had  undertaken,  seeming  to  benefit 
his  health,  was  greatly  prolonged,  and  a  number  of  dis- 
tant cities  visited.  During  their  sojourn  at  Louisville,  a 
pathetic  incident  occurred.  Whilst  walking  one  day 
with  his  niece  through  one  of  the  principal  streets,  Mr. 
Lebrun  found  himself,  before  he  was  aware  of  it,  in  the 
midst  of  the  slave-market. 

About  thirty  miserable  negroes,  men,  women,  and  chil- 
ren,  who,  at  the  death  of  their  master,  had  become  the 
property  of  some  rapacious  relatives,  were  on  the  block 
to  be  sold. 

The  tears  and  lamentations  of  these  poor  creatures  so 
greatly  affected  Henrietta  that,  without  reflecting  on  the 
impracticability  of  the  request,  she  began  to  supplicate 
her  uncle  to  buy  the  slaves,  and  give  them  their  liberty 
on  the  spot. 

"  Are  you  dreaming,  my  child  .''"  replied  Mr.  Lebrun  ; 
*'  why,  that  would  be  an  unheard-of  thing !     Besides,  ray 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  99 

fortune  is  not  sufficient  to  permit  such  deeds  of  genero- 
sity." 

"  Then,  my  dear  uncle,  come,  let  us  go  !  Oh  !  take  me 
away  from  the  sight  of  these  horrors,  I  beg  you  !"  replied 
the  young  girl,  bursting  into  tears.  "  I  can  not  behold 
such  a  spectacle  with  indifference;  my  inmost  soul  is 
moved  with  compassion,  whilst  every  principle  of  my 
nature  revolts  against  this  system  of  slavery." 

And  indeed,  so  deeply  moved  and  excited  was  Hen- 
rietta, that  she  had  scarcely  reached  the  hotel,  before  she 
was  seized  with  a  nervous  attack  that  greatly  alarmed 
Mr.  Lebrun.  After  a  long  and  quiet  sleep,  however,  she 
appeared  quite  well  again,  but  implored  her  uncle  to  re- 
turn at  once  to  The  Acacias,  which  they  did  the  following 
day. 

"  There,  at  least,"  thought  the  young  girl,  "  I  shall 
be  able  to  effect  some  little  good,  because,  as  far  as  lies 
in  my  power,  I  shall  endeavor  to  ameliorate  the  condi- 
tion of  the  poor  slaves  belonging  to  my  uncle." 

On  reaching  home,  Henrietta  was  struck  by  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  two  quadroons,  Malcy  and  Betty,  who 
had  become  her  especial  favorites.  It  will  be  remem- 
bered that  the  latter  was  Mrs.  Edwards's  maid,  and 
the  former  had  charge  of  the  linen-closets ;  but  to  her  as- 
tonishment, Henrietta  found  these  two  young  girls  were 
now  compelled  to  do  the  meanest  drudgery  of  the  house- 
hold. 

"  What  does  this  mean  ?"  she  demanded  of  Mrs.  Ed- 
wards. 

"  Those  two  mulattoes  have  become  so  insolent,"  re- 


lOO  THE   fisherman's   DAUGHTER. 

sponded  the  latter,  '*  that  I  have  concluded  to  try  and 
break  them,  by  bringing  down  their  pride." 

"  But,"  replied  Henrietta,  "  could  you  not  succeed  in 
making  them  docile  and  obliging  without  employing  them 
at  work  to  which  they  have  never  been  accustomed  ?" 

"  Permit  me  to  remind  you,  Miss  Lebrun,"  replied 
Mrs.  Edwards,  "  that  as  far  as  the  slaves  are  concerned, 
my  experience  certainly  renders  me  a  more  capable 
judge  of  what  is  proper  for  them  than  yourself.  For- 
merly, when  Mr.  Lebrun  left  the  entire  control  of  them 
in  my  hands,  all  was  well.  But  since  you  have  come, 
miss,  and,  consulting  only  your  extreme  sensibilities  and 
peculiar  views,  have  endeavored  to  treat  these  creatures 
as  if  they  had  intellect  and  souls,  the  effect  has  been  very 
bad,  I  assure  you.  My  husband  declares  the  negroes 
have  become  so  indolent  and  ungovernable  he  can  do 
nothing  scarcely  with  them ;  and  the  situation  grows 
constantly  more  serious,  as  will  be  shown  by  the  decreas- 
ing profits  of  the  crops.  Now,  my  husband  intends  to 
explain  this  state  of  affairs  to  Mr.  Lebrun  ;  and  then, 
miss,  you  and  I  will  each  understand  our  proper  posi- 
tions." 

And  leaving  Henrietta  confounded  by  her  impudence 
and  hypocrisy,  Mrs.  Edwards  swept  from  the  chamber 
with  a  smile  of  malicious  triumph  on  her  lips.  She 
understood  but  too  well  the  weakness  of  Mr.  Lebrun. 
Alarmed  by  the  overseer's  representations  of  the  demo- 
ralized and  ungovernable  condition  of  the  slaves,  the 
planter  ordered  his  niece  in  future  to  have  no  commu- 
nication with  them.  In  vain  Henrietta  urged  him  to  in- 
vestigate the  facts  which  had  so  greatly  alarmed  him  ; 


THE  FISHERMAN'S  DAUGHTER.  lOI 

the  planter  insisted  that  Edwards  had  too  much  experi- 
ence to  be  deceived,  was  entirely  reliable,  and  again  re- 
newed the  order  that  nothing  should  be  done  for  the 
slaves  without  the  sanction  of  the  overseer. 

Henrietta,  in  despair,  went  immediately  to  pour  her 
grief  into  the  bosom  of  her  devoted  friend  Ellen  Mc- 
Dougall. 

"  I  am  afraid,"  replied  the  latter,  **  that  your  slaves 
are  indeed  cruelly  treated.  I  have  heard  many  reports 
of  very  sad  things  occurring,  through  the  bad  conduct  of 
your  overseer.  But  let  him  look  to  it !  these  unhappy 
creatures  may  some  day  seek  to  revenge  themselves,  and 
such  a  retribution  would  be  fearful ;  I  shudder  to  think 
of  it!" 


CHAPTER   XX. 

PROMOTION   OF   CELESTIN — LEONIE'S   ILLNESS. 

After  Henrietta's  letter,  another  great  joy  came  to 
console  Anthony  and  Margaret  for  the  absence  of  their 
children.  Celestin  had  constantly  distinguished  himself 
by  his  good  conduct,  his  intelligence,  and  his  ambition  to 
improve.  Cheerful,  polite,  and  industrious,  he  gained  the 
esteem  and  good-will  of  all  with  whom  he  was  associated. 
He  was  an  especial  favorite  of  the  captain,  who  promot- 
ed him  to  the  position  of  first  pilot,  and  promised  to  take 
him  under  his  immediate  protection.  He  commenced 
by  loaning  him  books  to  study,  and  Celestin  exhibited 
great  aptness  and  intelligence ;  the  captain  assured  him, 
as  soon  as  he  was  of  age  he  should  be  sent  on  a  long 
voyage.  Besides  this,  another  consolation  in  store  for 
Margaret  was,  that  in  six  months  at  farthest  her  son 
would  be  again  at  home. 

These  tidings  carried  happiness  and  rejoicing  to  White 
Cottage. 

"Dear  child!"  exclaimed  Margaret,  while  tears  of 
gratitude  coursed  down  her  cheeks;  "  Celestin 's  only 
desire  was  to  serve  his  parents,  and  God  has  rewarded 
his  devotion." 


THE   FISHERMAN  S   DAUGHTER.  IO3 

In  the  midst  of  this  tranquil  happiness,  Anthony  and 
Margaret  were  aroused  to  a  new  sorrow,  by  the  illness  of 
Leonie  Hermier.  Always  delicate,  the  young  girl  had 
been  suddenly  attacked  with  inflammation  of  the  lungs, 
or  pneumonia,  as  the  disease  is  called,  which  the  physi- 
cians considered  so  serious  in  its  consequences  that  they 
advised  her  mother  to  try  the  air  of  Italy  for  at  least  two 
years.  This  decision  greatly  distressed  the  Lebrun  fa- 
mily. Leonie  was  so  lovely,  so  kind  and  good  ;  she  had 
scrupulously  kept  the  promise  made  to  Henrietta  on  her 
departure,  and  her  visits  had  always  carried  light  and 
consolation  to  White  Cottage.  Henry  was  her  favorite 
of  all  the  family.  At  six  years,  he  was  much  farther  ad- 
vanced than  children  usually  are  at  that  age ;  and  so  in- 
teresting and  bright  that  Madame  Hermier  and  Leonie 
often  made  him  visit  The  Elms,  and  the  little  boy  insen- 
sibly imbibed  the  manners,  and  a  style  of  language  and 
ideas,  far  above  his  station  in  life.  But  Anthony,  consi- 
dering that  sooner  or  later  the  condition  of  his  children 
would  be  entirely  reversed  or  very  much  changed,  was 
not  displeased  at  this  transformation  in  the  character  of 
his  son. 

"  They  are  called,"  he  said,  "  to  follow  a  different 
career  from  that  to  which  I  had  destined  them  ;  I  should 
then  feel  grateful  to  God  for  sending  them  such  bene- 
factors." 

Therefore,  following  the  advice  of  Madame  Hermier, 
he  placed  Emily  at  boarding-school.  A  modest  and  un- 
pretending boarding-school,  it  is  true ;  for  the  excellent 
Sisters  who  kept  it  were  richer  in  piety  and  learning 
than  in  worldly  possessions.     Nevertheless,  although  the 


I04  THE  FISHERMAN  S   DAUGHTER. 

terms  were  very  moderate,  they  lavished  on  the  pupils  the 
fondest  and  most  maternal  care,  and  carried  them 
through  a  course  of  instruction  best  calculated  to  insure 
a  complete  and  thorough  education. 

It  will  be  readily  understood  how  the  solicitude  mani- 
fested by  Madame  Herraier  and  her  daughter  in  all  that 
concerned  the  interests  of  Anthony's  family  awakened  in 
the  soul  of  the  latter,  and  his  wife,  the  most  devoted  at- 
tachment. It  was  therefore  with  sincere  regret  that 
they  heard  of  Leonie's  approaching  departure  and  long 
absence ;  it  seemed  to  them  like  being  separated  anew 
from  one  of  their  own  children. 

The  parting  was  most  touching.  Conformity  of  sen- 
timent had  presided  at  the  union  of  these  two  families  in 
a  friendship  founded  on  mutual  esteem  and  reciprocal 
affection.  After  the  departure  of  Madame  Hermier,  sad- 
ness and  desolation  again  presided  over  the  inmates  of 
White  Cottage. 

"  If  dear  Miss  Leonie  would  only  come  back  very 
soon!"  exclaimed  little  Henry,  sorrowfully  sighing. 
"  Oh !  I  should  be  so  glad !  She  was  always  so  kind,  and 
knew  so  well  how  to  amuse  and  instruct  me." 

"  If  she  can  only  recover  her  health,"  replied  Emily, 
"  I  shall  continue  to  pray  for  her  with  all  my  heart." 

"  Yes,"  in  their  turn  answered  Anthony  and  Marga- 
ret ;  "  let  us  all  pray  unceasingly  for  this  amiable  and 
lovely  child.  She  is  the  only  hope  of  her  mother  :  may 
God  in  His  mercy  preserve  her!" 

Every  day,  from  White  Cottage,  some  such  affection- 
ate souvenir  was  wafted  on  the  wings  of  hope  and  pray- 
er toward  the  beloved  invalid. 


THE  fisherman's   DAUGHTER.  I05 

In  several  letters,  Madame  Hermier  expressed  great 
fear  lest  the  voyage,  instead  of  causing  Leonie  to  im- 
prove, had  aggravated  her  malady.  But  at  last,  the  pure 
air  of  Sicily,  and  doubtless,  far  more  than  all  else,  the  fer- 
vent prayers  of  her  mother  and  friends,  caused  a  favora- 
ble reaction. 

This  letter  was  transmitted  to  Henrietta  by  her 
father.  He  feared,  with  reason,  too,  that  the  sympathies 
of  his  daughter  would  be  too  deeply  moved,  on  hearing 
of  the  dangerous  condition  of  her  friend.  The  intelli- 
gence, in  fact,  had  greatly  excited  and  grieved  her,  while 
the  affectionate  tenderness  expressed  for  her  by  her  de- 
voted parents  revived  more  strongly  than  ever  a  feeling 
of  intense  homesickness  and  the  earnest  longing  to  see 
those  beloved  parents  again. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

THE   BALL — WILKIE'S   ILLNESS— HENRIETTA'S  DEVOTED 
NURSING. 

The  presence  of  his  niece,  as  we  have  seen,  revived 
in  William  Lebrun  a  taste  for  luxury  and  festivities. 
They  had  scarcely  returned  from  their  journey  before  he 
determined  to  give  a  grand  ball  and  concert.  Invita- 
tions were  consequently  sent  out  to  a  large  number  of 
his  friends,  among  the  planters,  and  the  families  of  those 
with  whom  he  had  business  relations.  Henrietta's  ward- 
robe was  again  freshly  replenished  with  elegant  and  ex- 
pensive toilets.  Endowed  with  a  great  deal  of  natural 
taste,  the  young  girl,  assisted  by  Ellen  McDougall,  super- 
'  intended  all  the  arrangements  and  preparations  for  the 
festival.  Betty  and  Malcy,  the  two  quadroon  victims  of 
Mrs.  Edwards's  malicious  vindictiveness,  were  appointed 
by  Henrietta  as  first  waiters,  and  she  would  insist  on 
having  them  with  her  (to  the  great  displeasure  of  the 
overseer's  wife),  to  assist  at  the  preparations  for  the  en- 
tertainment. This  being  her  wish,  Mr.  Lebrun,  under 
the  circumstances,  was  not  the  man  to  oppose  his  niece, 
by  listening  to  the  insinuations  or  complaints  of  Mrs. 
Edwards. 

Determined  that  her  uncle  should  be  pleased  with 


THE   FISHERMAN  S   DAUGHTER.  lO/ 

her  industry  and  good  taste,  Henrietta  spared  no  exer- 
tions, and  added  to  the  programme  a  number  of  happy 
inventions  and  beautiful  suggestions. 

A  spacious  pavilion  was  erected  in  the  magnificent 
garden  of  The  Acacias.  The  sides  of  this  tent  were 
entirely  concealed  by  trailing  vines,  and  small  trees  and 
evergreens,  so  skillfully  arranged  around  the  tables  as 
to  give  them  the  appearance  of  being  elevated  in  the 
midst  of  flowers  and  foliage.  In  another  portion  of  the 
garden,  a  second  pavilion,  not  less  ingeniously  decorat- 
ed, formed  the  dancing-hall.  The  finest  musicians  had 
been  engaged,  and  every  thing  in  fact  gotten  up  in  a  style 
to  do  honor  to  the  munificent  hospitality  of  Mr.  Lebrun. 

During  the  two  days  the  festivities  were  to  continue, 
the  slaves  in  the  fields  were  made  to  stop  work,  and  all 
take  part  in  the  necessary  service  of  waiting  on  the  in- 
vited guests.  None  were  excepted  but  the  aged  and  in- 
firm, whose  presence  would  have  cast  a  shadow  on  the 
otherwise  faultless  tableau.  The  others  were  all  supplied 
with  suitable  apparel,  and  especially  bright-colored  plaid 
silk  handkerchiefs,  to  make  turbans  for  their  heads,  a 
kind  of  ornament  of  which  the  negroes  are  excessively 
proud.  Finally,  in  order  that  they  should  appear  to  the 
best  possible  advantage,  for  some  days  previous  to  the  fes- 
tival their  daily  allowance  of  food  was  considerably  in- 
creased, while  their  "  quarters"  received  a  general  and 
thorough  cleansing. 

The  collection  of  cabins  built  for  the  slaves  on  a 
plantation  is  called  the  "quarters."  These  places  are 
usually  horribly  filthy,  and,  under  the  management  of 
Mr.  Edwards,  they  could  not  be  otherwise  at  The  Acacias. 


I08  THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER. 

Often  and  again,  Henrietta,  moved  by  compassion, 
had  tried  to  effect  a  change  in  this  state  of  things :  but 
obtained  nothing,  Mr.  Lebrun  referring  every  thing  of  the 
kind  exclusively  to  his  overseer. 

This  weakness  of  the  planter  had  its  source  in  his 
bad  health  and  the  too  confiding  generosity  of  his  na- 
ture. Edwards,  adroit  and  hypocritical,  understood  how 
to  turn  aside  every  thing  that  might  have  enlightened  his 
employer  to  the  true  condition  of  affairs,  and  to  conceal 
his  own  enormities  beneath  an  appearance  of  such  ex- 
treme probity  and  devotion,  that  Mr,  Lebrun  intrusted 
the  management  of  every  thing  to  him,  with  the  most 
implicit  confidence. 

The  festival  day  at  length  arrived.  During  the  en- 
tire morning,  carriages  from  every  direction  were  throng- 
ing to  The  Acacias,  the  guests  wishing  to  take  advantage 
of  the  early  morning  hours  for  traveling,  that  being  the 
most  delightful  portion  of  the  day  in  those  warm  cli- 
mates. Among  the  number  of  invitations  issued,  one 
for  Madame  Delmont  had,  of  course,  not  been  forgotten. 

Henrietta  and  Ellen  McDougall  were  appointed  to 
act  as  hostesses  on  the  occasion,  and  acquitted  them- 
selves wonderfully.  Compliments  innumerable  were 
lavished  upon  Henrietta,  every  one  admiring  her  unaf- 
fected simplicity,  her  graceful  ease  of  manner  and  mo- 
dest self-possession. 

The  two  young  girls  had  agreed  to  avoid  in  their 
toilets  the  extravagant  style  of  dress  worn  by  the  Creoles. 
Simple  white  muslin,  therefore,  with  natural  flowers, 
composed  their  sole  ornaments.  At  first,  Mr.  Lebrun 
pffered  the  most  serious  opposition  to  this  severe  simpli- 


THE  fisherman's   DAUGHTER.  IO9 

city  of  style ;  but  as  he  contemplated  his  niece,  as  she 
stood  in  the  midst  of  a  group  of  youthful  guests,  he 
could  but  acknowledge  the  superiority  of  her  refined 
taste. 

It  was  a  curious  spectacle,  that  crowd  of  men  and 
women,  arrayed  in  the  costliest  apparel,  their  fair  com- 
plexions, languid  movements,  and  nonchalant  air  con- 
trasting with  the  ebony  color,  eager  vivacity  of  move- 
ment, and  coarse,  gaudy  adorning  of  the  blacks  employ- 
ed in  waiting.  Nothing  could  have  been  more  original 
and  amusing  than  the  appearance  of  the  little  negroes, 
circulating  here,  there,  and  everywhere,  each  one  pre- 
tending to  be  fully  employed,  and  enjoying  to  the  fullest 
extreme  the  entertainment  around  him. 

The  busiest  of  these  children  was  unquestionably 
Wilkie.  His  eyes  were  scarcely  ever  withdrawn  from 
Henrietta,  and  the  least  sign  made  by  his  young  mistress 
was  instantly  understood  and  executed. 

The  morning  passed  rapidly  away;  and  the  guests 
each  retired  to  enjoy  a  siesta ;  the  elder  to  await  the 
dinner-hour,  the  young  girls  with  the  perspective  of  the 
ball  constantly  before  them,  for  which  they  waited  with 
eager  impatience. 

In  traversing  one  of  the  verandas,  to  issue  some  ne- 
cessary order,  Henrietta's  attention  was  arrested  by  the 
sound  of  a  voice,  whose  harsh  severity  of  tone  startled 
her.  She  looked  around  in  vain,  to  try  and  discover  the 
speaker ;  the  slaves  whom  she  questioned  were  either  un- 
able or  unwilling  to  give  her  any  information.  She  felt, 
however,  that  she  could  not  have  been  deceived  ;  she  had 
heard  the  strange  voice  and  caught  several  words ;  among 


no  THE  fisherman's  daughter. 

others,  the  word  "  deatfi''  had  been  pronounced  in  a  tone 
so  threatening  that  she  shuddered  with  terror  at  the 
sound.  She  passed  trembUngly  along  the  veranda,  and 
descended  under  the  peristyle ;  but  discovered  no  one 
whose  voice  could  have  possibly  been  the  one  that  had 
alarmed  her.  She  at  length  concluded  that  she  might 
have  been  mistaken ;  nevertheless,  a  profound  sadness 
took  possession  of  her  soul ;  she  felt  impressed  with  the 
idea  that  some  misfortune  threatened  her  uncle,  and, 
seeking  Ellen  McDougall,  she  confided  these  apprehen- 
sions to  her  friend. 

"  Are  you  entirely  sure  of  all  this  V  inquired  Ellen, 
whose  countenance  at  once  assumed  a  gloomy  and 
anxious  expression.  "  If  so,  it  would  be  well  to  inform 
your  uncle  immediately,  in  order  that  he  may  be  on  his 
guard ;  for  unfortunately,  the  most  terrible  catastrophes 
have  often  occurred  on  the  plantations,  induced  by  the 
hatred  of  the  negroes  for  their  overseers.  Who  knows, 
but  the  one  who  uttered  these  violent  threats  has  per- 
haps some  grudge  against  Mr.  Edwards .?" 

*'  But,"  observed  Henrietta,  "  I  know  all  of  our 
slaves,  and  I  have  not  recognized  the  voice " 

"  That  is  nothing,"  replied  Ellen  ;  "  I  remember  now 
hearing  it  said  that,  for  two  or  three  years,  numbers  of 
blacks  have  fled  from  your  uncle's  plantation,  and  are 
living  in  the  swamps.  Perhaps  in  the  confusion  which 
he  supposed  would  exist  during  the  fete,  one  of  these  fu- 
gitives has  returned  to  consult  with  his  old  companions. 
It  will  not  do,  I  assure  you,  to  neglect  informing  your 
uncle." 

The  conversation  was  here  interrupted  by  a  summons 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  Ill 

to  dinner.  Whatever  desire  Henrietta  might  have  had  to 
speak  immediately  to  her  uncle,  she  was  compelled  to 
defer  the  conversation  until  the  next  day,  as  the  duties 
of  the  master  of  the  house  left  him  no  opportunity  during 
the  evening  of  absenting  himself  from  his  guests. 

It  was  scarcely  dark,  before  the  sound  of  the  orches- 
tra was  heard,  calling  them  to  the  ball-room,  and  very 
soon  several  quadrilles  were  formed,  and  the  dancing 
commenced. 

The  servants  appeared  in  every  direction,  carrying 
waiters  filled  with  ices,  fruits,  jellies,  and  cake ;  among 
them,  little  Wilkie  was  conspicuous  for  his  earnestness ; 
an  observing  glance,  however,  would  have  detected  in  the 
eyes  of  the  child  a  certain  painful  distention,  and  in  his 
countenance  that  gray  ashen  hue,  which  is  the  pallor  of 
the  negroes.  His  movements,  so  quick  and  animated  in 
the  morning,  had  become  languid  and  heavy.  Taking 
advantage  of  a  moment  when  Henrietta  was  resting  from 
the  numerous  invitations  to  dance  constantly  pressed 
upon  her,  Wilkie  approached,  and  addressed  his  young 
mistress. 

"  Miss  Henrietta,"  he  stammered,  "  I  feel  very  sick, 
ma'am ;  may  I  go,  please -"  Unable  to  finish  the  sen- 
tence, he  stopped,  and  the  waiter  he  carried  fell  from  his 
hands.  The  glasses  with  which  it  was  filled  were  brok- 
en, and  the  contents  of  one  or  two  of  them  emptied  on 
the  dress  of  a  young  lady  sitting  beside  Henrietta.  Fu- 
rious at  his  supposed  carelessness,  she  gave  Wilkie  a 
blow  on  the  ear  ;  the  child  staggered,  and  sank  upon  the 
floor. 

Another  moment,  and  a  loud  exclamation  was  heard, 


112  THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER. 

Uttered  by  Edwards,  who,  running  to  make  the  little 
negro  get  up,  remarked  the  frightfully  pinched  and 
shrunken  features.  "  The  yellow-fever .'"  he  cried,  "  the 
yellow-fever  /" 

At  these  words,  the  utmost  consternation  seized  upon 
the  assembly.  The  guests  rushed  terror-stricken  out 
into  the  gardens.  The  truth  of  the  overseer's  assertion 
was  found  to  be  amply  confirmed ;  several  negroes,  and 
among  them  some  of  those  belonging  to  the  visitors,  fell 
to  the  ground,  writhing  in  the  grasp  of  the  plague  which 
had  stricken  them. 

The  alarm  of  the  planters  knew  no  bounds  ;  an  inde- 
scribable confusion  reigned  throughout  the  mansion; 
every  one  was  anxious  to  leave  at  once;  but  the  terror  of 
the  slaves  being  equally  great  with  that  of  their  masters, 
the  preparations  for  departing  advanced  but  slowly. 
However,  in  an  hour  after  the  alarm  had  been  given,  not 
a  single  one  of  the  invited  guests  remained  at  The 
Acacias. 

Ellen  McDougall  tried  earnestly  to  carry  Henrietta 
home  with  her;  and  Madame  Delmont  as  earnestly  im- 
plored that  she  should  accompany  her ;  but  to  all  these 
proposals  the  young  girl  had  but  one  reply :  that  her 
place  was  in  the  midst  of  the  unfortunate  creatures  who 
had  been  stricken  by  the  plague,  and  neither  arguments 
nor  entreaties,  nor  the  positive  commands  of  her  uncle, 
sufficed  to  make  her  change  her  resolution. 

The  entire  night  was  spent  in  making  provision  for 
the  sick ;  and  in  these  preparations  Mr.  Lebrun  permit- 
ted nothing  to  be  spared.  His  kind  heart  was  moved 
with  deepest  compassion  for  the  sufferers,  and,   when 


THE   FISHERMAN  S   DAUGHTER.  II3 

urged  by  Edwards  to  leave  the  plantation,  he  assured 
him  that  he  would  remain  until  the  end,  and  intended 
that  nothing  should  be  neglected  to  prevent  the  spread 
of  the  epidemic. 

Those  who  have  not  visited  America,  and  especially 
Louisiana,  Mexico,  and  the  Antilles,  or  have  not  read  the 
accounts  of  travelers  in  those  countries,  can  form  no 
conception  of  the  violence  and  rapidity  with  which  the 
yellow-fever,  commonly  called  the  black  vomit,  develops 
itself.  The  souvenirs  left  in  France,  by  the  invasion  of 
the  cholera  in  1832,  can  alone  convey  an  idea  of  its  hor- 
rors. 

Generated  by  the  malarias  exhaled  from  the  swamps 
and  marshes  which  cover  those  vast  extents  of  country 
surrounding  the  mouths  of  the  American  rivers,  accele- 
rated by  the  intense  heat,  and  the  humidity  that  reigns  in 
those  regions,  the  yellow-fever  suddenly  spreads  through 
the  atmosphere,  and  strikes  like  a  thunderbolt.  Its  ope- 
rations are  such  that  it  will  infect  not  only  entire  houses, 
but  will  get  aboard  ships  also.  In  the  beginning  of  the 
year  1864,  an  example  of  the  tenacity  of  the  plague  oc- 
curred at  St.  Nazarus. 

The  "  Anna  Maria,"  a  vessel  coming  from  America, 
brought  in  her  hold  the  germ  of  yellow-fever,  which  sud- 
denly broke  out  when  she  proceeded  to  discharge  her 
cargo.  The  deck-hands  were  almost  all  attacked,  and  in 
order  to  prevent  the  epidemic  spreading  through  the  city, 
they  were  compelled  to  submerge  the  vessel,  and  leave 
her  for  some  time  under  water. 

The  Antilles,  Vera  Cruz,  and  New-Orleans  have  a 
sad  reputation  because  of  the  periodical  visitations  of  the 


114  THE  FISHERMAN  S   DAUGHTER. 

fever.  Newly-arrived  Europeans  are  especially  liable 
to  become  its  victims.  A  great  many  succumb  to  the 
disease,  and  those  who  recover  are  often  left  with  the 
germs  of  disease  sown  in  their  constitutions,  and  are  com- 
pelled to  return  to  Europe  under  penalty  of  dying  a  pre- 
mature death. 

One  fact,  which,  more  than  any  thing  else  caused 
such  consternation  among  the  guests  of  Mr.  Lebrun,  was, 
that  the  usual  season  for  the  fever  to  make  its  appear- 
,  ancewas  yet  several  months  off.  It  was  evident  that 
some  very  powerful  local  cause  had  suddenly  developed 
the  contagion.  If  it  appeared  already  in  so  violent  a 
form,  what  might  not  be  ultimately  anticipated  from  its 
ravages  ? 

Henrietta  had  been  terror-stricken  ;  but  although  of 
so  gentle  a  nature,  her  character  was  full  of  energy  and 
heroic  courage,  which  soon  elevated  her  above  the  effects 
of  fear.  She  waited  on  all  the  sick,  and  especially  little 
Wilkie.  Nothing  could  intimidate  the  self-sacrificing 
girl,  when  she  saw  an  opportunity  of  relieving  any  of  the 
suffering  creatures;  but  it  was  to  the  bedside  of  this 
child  especially  that  she  returned  with  the  greatest  inte- 
rest and  anxiety.  She  had  taken  an  especial  fancy  to  the 
poor  little  slave,  so  bright  and  intelligent,  so  earnest  and 
devoted ;  and  with  the  most  unceasing  solicitude,  she 
watched  beside  him,  and  exerted  every  effort  possible  to 
arrest  the  progress  and  effects  of  the  pestilence. 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

CONTINUANCE     OF     THE-      YELLOW-FEVER — ARCHY,      THE 
RUNAWAY     SLAVE. 

As  we  have  already  stated,  Mr.  Lebnin  had  ordered 
every  possible  attention  to  be  lavished  on  the  sick  ne- 
groes. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edwards  immediately  displayed  so 
much  unwillingness  in  having  his  orders  executed  that 
the  planter  was  struck  by  their  conduct,  and  for  the  first 
time  since  they  had  been  in  his  employment,  he  spoke  to 
them  with  severity. 

"  I  intend,"  he  exclaimed,  "  that  what  I  have  com- 
manded shall  be  done  without  delay.  Your  unwilling- 
ness doubtless  proceeds  from  a  bad  feeling  toward  these 
poor  slaves,  and  who  knows,  now,  but  what  you  are  in 
some  way  responsible  for  the  outbreak  of  this  fearful 
pestilence  ?  However,  I  wish  you  to  obey  my  orders  ; 
otherwise,  I  will  see  what  can  be  done." 

These  orders,  issued  in  a  tone  so  different  from  the 
usual  good-natured  suggestions  of  the  planter,  recalled 
the  overseer  and  his  wife  to  their  senses,  and  prevented 
them  from  attempting  farther  to  carry  out  their  wicked 
intentions  of  cruelty  and  neglect. 

But  the  planter  was  really  not  aware  of  how  much 


Il6  THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER. 

justice  there  was  in  the  accusation  he  had  made  against 
this  man  and  his  wife  of  having  caused  the  outbreak  of 
yellow-fever  on  the  plantation.  The  physician  who 
was  called  in  declared  the  slave  "  quarters"  to  be  the 
centre  from  which  the  infection  proceeded.  The  revolt- 
ing and  filthy  condition  in  which  they  were  kept  render- 
ed this  opinion  but  too  plausible.  The  precipitate 
cleansing  to  which  the  "  quarters"  had  been  subjected,  on 
the  occasion  of  the  grand  entertainment  (in  order  that 
its  usual  disgraceful  condition  might  not,  by  any  possibi- 
lity, be  discovered  by  even  a  strange  servant),  had  served 
to  sooner  develop  the  plague  that  was  already  breeding 
among  those  foul  habitations  of  the  negroes. 

When  Mr.  Lebrun  heard  the  doctor's  opinion,  he  fell 
into  a  state  of  gloomy  reflection.  Ten  years  passed 
among  the  slaves  had  not  been  sufficient  to  deaden  his 
sensibilities :  had  he  not  contracted  the  careless  habits 
of  other  planters,  and  kept  an  eye  on  the  affairs  of  the 
plantation  himself,  instead  of  trusting  every  thing  impli- 
citly to  the  overseer,  the  terrible  abuses  introduced  by 
Edwards  would  never  have  existed.  His  only  mistake 
had  been  in  placing  so  much  authority  exclusively  in  the 
hands  of  the  overseer;  but  the  sad  event  which  had  just 
occurred  gave  a  decisive  blow  to  the  confidence  he  had 
so  entirely  reposed  in  his  wily  superintendent. 

For  eight  days  the  yellow-fever  raged  with  unabated 
violence  at  The  Acacias.  Five  slaves  had  already  died, 
five  others  were  dying,  and  almost  every  one  on  the 
plantation  had  been  attacked  by  the  disease.  Henrietta 
escaped ;  God,  it  seemed,  had  protected  her  in  an  espe- 
cial manner,  that  she  might  have  courage  and  strength  to 


THE   fisherman's   DAUGHTER.  11/ 

sustain  those  wretched  beings  whom  she  nursed  with   so 
much  devotion. 

Mr.  Lebrun  tried  at  first  to  restrain  the  ardor  of  his 
niece,  in  her  laborious,  self-imposed  task  of  nursing  ;  but 
failing  in  his  efforts,  he  was  at  last  obliged  to  confine 
himself  simply  to  watching  Henrietta  with  unceasing 
vigilance,  in  order,  if  the  least  symptom  of  the  disease 
should  be  developed  in  her  system,  he  might  be  ready  to 
give  her  instantly  the  necessary  attention  and  remedies. 

One  evening,  after  an  unusually  fatiguing  day,  Hen- 
rietta was  returning  to  the  house  to  seek  a  few  moments' 
repose,  when  she  remembered  that  she  had  omitted  to 
visit  one  of  the  farthest  cabins  belonging  to  the  "  quar- 
ter." This  was  the  domicile  of  Wilkie's  parents,  Cassy 
and  Sam,  the  former  having  been  taken  sick  that  after- 
noon. Henrietta  turned  back,  and  hurried  toward  the 
cabin. 

She  found  the  door  closed  and  bolted ;  and  through 
the  openings  between  the  logs  of  which  it  was  built  she 
heard  the  sound  of  several  voices.  Henrietta  knocked 
at  the  door.  A  hurried  movement  was  made  on  the  in- 
terior, and  several  seconds  passed  before  Sam  came  to 
open  it. 

On  seeing  the  young  girl,  a  sigh  of  relief  escaped  the 
negro,  who  hastened  to  offer  her  a  stool. 

"Why  did  you  have  your  door  bolted,  Sam?"  de- 
manded Henrietta,  casting  around  her  an  investigating 
glance. 

"  It  was  bolted,  miss,  without  thinking,  accidentally 
done,"  replied  Sam,  greatly  embarrassed. 

"  But  you  know,"  replied  Henrietta,  who  was  trou- 


Il8  THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER. 

bled  by  this  embarrassment,  which  she  knew  concealed 
something  important,  "  you  know  that  you  are  forbidden 
to  bolt  your  doors.  If,  in  place  of  me,  Mrs.  Edwards 
had  come  this  evening  to  visit  you,  a  very  severe  punish- 
ment would  have  been  the  consequence  of  your"  disobe- 
dience. But  never  mind  now,  we  will  let  it  pass,"  she 
added  kindly,  "  you  need  not  tremble  so,  nor  be  uneasy ; 
I  will  forget  your  infraction  of  the  established  regula- 
tions, if  you  will  tell  me  who  was  with  you  just  now, 
when  I  knocked." 

"  Nobody,  miss,"  Sam  answered  hurriedly  and  in  a 
confused  and  excited  manner  that  clearly  condemned 
him. 

"  No  person,  Sam  ?  Why,  I  distinctly  heard  another 
voice  besides  Cassy's  and  your  own.  However,  I  know 
you  have  too  much  confidence  in  me  to  try  to  deceive 
me;  therefore  I  will  not  doubt  your  word." 

Sam  turned  away  his  head,  and  remained  silent. 
The  young  girl  then  approached  the  bed  on  which  Cassy 
was  lying,  and  with  much  interest  inquired  how  she  felt. 

"  Very  weak  and  bad,  ma'am,  indeed ;  but  I  have  not 
got  the  fever."  And  in  fact,  with  all  the  symptoms  of  a 
serious  illness,  Cassy  discovered  no  signs  of  yellow-fever. 

"So  much  the  better,"  replied  Henrietta,  "because, 
in  that  case,  it  will  not  be  long  before  you  are  well  again. 
I  expect  in  nursing  Wilkie  and  the  other  servants,  you 
have  over-fatigued  yourself." 

"  Oh  !  no,  ma'am,"  said  the  negress,  "  that  is  not  all : 
nursing  my  poor  little  boy  was  only  a  pleasure  to  me, 
and  to  try  and  help  my  own  people,  that  was  my  duty, 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  1 19 

you  know.  But  ,please  tell  me,  ma'am,  how  is  my  little 
Wilkie  getting  along  this  evening?" 

"Very  well,  indeed;  you  need  have  no  uneasiness 
about  him  now." 

"I  would  like  to  thank  you,  mistress,"  said  Cassy. 
"because  it  was  you  saved  my  child,  when  Mrs 
Edwards  would  have  been  glad  to  see  him  die.  Oh!" 
she  added,  lowering  her  voice,  "  why  can  not  my  poor 
Archy  also  find  such  a  friend?" 

Henrietta  was  about  to  ask  an  explanation  of  these 
words,  when  she  thought  she  saw  a  curtain,  placed  be- 
hind the  bed,  suddenly  moving.  An  involuntary  shud- 
der ran  over  her,  and  Sam,  who,  until  then,  apparently 
involved  in  deep  reflection,  had  been  sitting,  gazing  at- 
tentively at  the  young  girl,  observed  the  movement.  A 
sudden  inspiration  seemed  to  seize  the  negro,  who,  fall- 
ing on  his  knees  before  Henrietta,  began  to  implore  her 
pardon. 

"Pardon  you  for  what?"  she  demanded  gravely. 

"For  having  deceived  you,"  he  cried.  "Yes,  mis- 
tress, there  is  somebody  hid  here.  You  was  not  mis- 
taken. But  when  I  tell  you  that  it  is  my  son,  and  that 
the  most  cruel  vengeance  will  fall  on  him  if  he  is  dis- 
covered, you  will  forgive  me  for  having  told  you  a  lie — 
you  who  have  always  been  so  good  to  us !" 

Then  getting  up  hurriedly,  Sam  ran  to  the  curtain 
behind  the  bed ;  with  one  hand  he  raised  it,  and  with 
the  other  pointed  to  a  young  negro  man,  nearly  twenty 
years  old  apparently.  Tall  and  robust,  the  new-comer 
had  an  intelligent  countenance,  stamped  with  an  expres- 
sion of  indomitable  pride  and  determination. 


120  THE   fisherman's   DAUGHTER. 

"Get  on  your  knees,  Archy  !"  cried  Sam.  "  Get  on 
your  knees,  boy,  and  ask  Miss  Henrietta  to  protect  you." 

The  young  negro  knelt  for  an  instant ;  then  rising,  he 
said,  "  Young  mistress,  I  know  how  much  you  have  done 
for  my  father  and  mother,  and  especially  how  good  you 
have  been  to  my  little  brother;  that  is  the  reason  I  knelt 
down  before  you — a  thing,  mistress,  I  have  never  done  to 
any  body  else  before. 

"  I  have  been  your  uncle's  slave.  I  am  very  proud, 
but  I  would  always  have  done  my  tasks,  had  it  not  been 
for  the  wickedness"  of  the  overseer,  who,  knowing  I  was 
his  equal,  regarded  me  with  the  most  perfect  hatred. 
There  is  no  kind  of  torture  he  did  not  inflict  on  me.  I 
submitted  to  all  his  cruelty,  because  I  did  not  want  to 
leave  my  parents ;  but  one  day  my  patience  was  at  last 
exhausted.  While  Edwards  was  beating  me,  I  threw  my- 
self on  him,  and  would  have  killed  him,  if  they  had  not 
taken  him  out  of  my  hands.  Fortunately  for  me,  this 
happened  in  one  of  the  farthest  fields.  Before  they  had 
time  to  seize  and  tie  me,  as  the  overseer  ordered  them  to 
do,  I  leaped  a  ditch,  and  by  fast  running,  was  very  soon 
out  of  their  reach.  The  same  evening  I  was  all  safe. 
That  happened  three  years  ago.  Edwards  offered  a 
large  reward  to  any  body  who  would  catch  me ;  however, 
I  braved  the  danger  of  coming  in  when  I  heard  of  my 
little  brother's  sickness,  I  wanted  to  see  him  so  badly. 
I  came  in  this  afternoon  without  any  one  finding  it  out. 
Father  tells  me  Wilkie  is  at  the  house,  and  I  shall  not  get 
to  see  him ;  but  I  am  satisfied  to  have  a  sight  of  my  old 
father  and  mother  once  more.  Now,  mistress,  what  will 
you  do  with  the  runaway.'     My  fate  is  in  your  hands." 


THE   fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  121 

This  recital  was  given  with  an  accent  of  such  haughty 
sorrow  and  sincerity  that  Henrietta  was  deeply  moved 
with  compassion,  Cassy  half  raised  herself  in  bed,  and 
watched  the  scene  with  anxious  eye,  uttering  stifled  ex- 
clamations, and  reaching  her  clasped  hands  imploringly 
toward  the  young  girl.  Sam  endeavored  to  appear  more 
composed ;  but  his  trembling  agitation  betrayed  the  great 
anxiety  he  suffered.     Archy  stood  immovable  as  a  statue. 

A  long  silence  ensued.  Henrietta  seemed  to  be  re- 
flecting. 

"  Archy,"  she  said  at  length,  "  it  is  my  duty,  perhaps, 
to  have  you  arrested  ;  but  pity  speaks  louder  than  rea- 
son. Go ;  but  first  promise  me,  as  the  price  of  my 
silence,  that  you  will  never  undertake  an  act  of  violence 
against  any  one  who  may  belong  to  this  house." 

*'What!"  cried  Archy,  "not  even  against  Edwards?" 

"Not  even  against  him." 

*'  I  can  not  promise " 

"But  you  must  promise,"  replied  the  young  girl, 
in  a  tone  of  authority.  "  God  has  forbidden  us  to  take 
revenge.  If  I,  for  instance,  remembering  the  suffer- 
ings I  endured  among  them,  should  determine  to  be  re- 
venged on  your  race,  what  would  become  of  you .'  be- 
cause, listen  to  me — but  no,  the  story  would  take  too 
long,  and  I  am  afraid  they  will  send  to  look  for  me. 
Swear  that  you  will  obey  me!" 

Archy  made  no  reply.  At  that  moment  a  noise  was 
heard  without.  "Go!"  said  Henrietta;  "but  you  have 
sworn,  is  it  not  ?" 

"Never!"  replied  the  young  negro;  "but  for  you, 
young  mistress,  for  your  sake  alone,  I  would  do  any  thing 


122  THE   fisherman's   DAUGHTER. 

possible,  because  my  father  has  not  been  deceived  in 
thinking  you  are  good." 

While  speaking,  Archy  had  displaced  one  of  the  logs 
in  the  side  of  the  cabin ;  then  embracing  Sam  and  Cassy 
with  great  affection,  he  bowed  to  Henrietta,  and  disap- 
peared. 

His  father  hastened  to  return  the  log  to  its  place. 
"O  my  dear  young  mistress  !  be  merciful!"  cried  Cas- 
sy imploringly.  "  Archy  has  not  obeyed  you ;  but  for- 
give him,  forgive  him,  mistress ;  he  has  suffered  so 
much  !     God  only  knows  how  much  !" 

At  the  same  instant  the  door  opened,  and  the  over- 
seer appeared. 

"Miss  Lebrun,"  he  said,  "your  uncle  wants  you;  he 
felt  uneasy,  and  sent  me  to  look  for  you." 

"  Very  well,"  replied  the  young  girl.  "  Good-by, 
Cassy,  I  will  come  again  to-morrow  evening,  and  see  how 
you  are  getting  along." 

And  although  greatly  troubled  at  the  bare  possibility 
of  Edwards  having  heard  and  recognized  Archy's  voice, 
she  assumed  an  air  of  quiet  unconcern,  and  accompanied 
the  overseer  to  the  house. 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

LETTER  WRITTEN    BY    HENRIETTA   TO   HER   PARENTS. 

Three  months  after  the  last-described  scene,  Anthony 
and  Margaret  Lebrun  received  the  following  letter  from 
their  daughter : 

"  My  dear  Father  and  Mother  :  It  has  now  been 
more  than  two  years  since  I  left  you,  and  I  am  yet  un- 
able to  predict  when  we  shall  meet  again.  I  dare  not 
even  think  of  the  uncertainty,  it  makes  me  so  miserable. 
Not  that  I  am  unhappy  here ;  oh  !  no  ;  my  uncle  is  the 
soul  of  goodness,  and  perfectly  devoted  to  me,  studying 
my  wishes  and  pleasure  even  in  the  most  trivial  mat- 
ters. And  yet  I  hesitate  and  dread  speaking  to  him 
on  the  subject  of  our  return  to  France  ;  he  has  become 
so  much  accustomed  to  the  Creole  habits  and  style  of 
living  that  the  idea  of  changing  seems  to  make  him 
shudder.  He  constantly  thinks  and  speaks  of  you,  and 
desires,  above  all  things,  to  see  you ;  but  the  thought  of 
leaving  the  loved  country  of  his  adoption,  and  having 
again  to  change  in  every  habit  of  his  life,  as  it  is  at 
present,  necessarily  makes  him  hesitate,  and  recoil 
from  the  ordeal.     I  hope,  notwithstanding,  that  he  will 


124  THE  fisherman's   DAUGHTER. 

ultimately  decide  on  going,  as  events  recently  transpir- 
ing have  been  the  source  of  great  trouble  to  him. 

"  You  must  know  that  about  three  months  since,  uncle 
had  arranged  a  magnificent  festival  in  my  honor,  which 
was  to  have  continued  two  days.  Every  thing  had  been 
prepared  in  the  most  luxurious  and  elegant  style ;  but  alas ! 
the  festivities  were  suddenly  interrupted  and  brought  to 
a  most  unexpected  and  terrible  conclusion." 

Henrietta  here  related  the  circumstances  as  they  had 
occurred  :  the  appearance  of  the  yellow-fever,  the  diffi- 
culty with  the  overseer,  then  the  episode  and  discovery 
of  Archy.  In  her  humility  she  omitted  telling  but  one 
thing,  and  that  was  the  heroic  part  she  had  performed  in 
nursing  the  sick. 

She  added : 

"  The  pestilence  claimed  many  victims ;  twenty 
slaves,  which  is  one  fourth  the  number  owned  by  my 
uncle,  are  dead.  I  know  not  how  I  have  escaped.  God 
has  been  merciful  to  me ;  he  intends  to  preserve  my  life, 
I  suppose,  for  your  sakes,  my  dear  good  parents. 

"  Write  to  me  oftener,  I  pray  you ;  and  never  let  a 
single  vessel  come  off,  without  sending  me  a  letter.  If 
you  only  knew  how  much  I  need  these  constant  remem- 
brances !  because,  I  am  obliged  to  acknowledge,  I  could 
never  become  accustomed  to  this  country,  nor  be  willing 
to  live  in  it. 

"  Now  that  the  yellow-fever  has  disappeared,  visiting 
has  again  been  resumed.  Among  those  who  first  hasten- 
ed to  us  was  Madame  Delmont.  She  seems  to  love  me  as 
dearly  as  if  I  were  her  own  daughter.     The  accident  that 


THE  fisherman's   DAUGHTER.  12$ 

separated  us  in  Africa,  and  which  was  followed  by  such 
serious  consequences  to  me,  has  increased  still  more  her 
affection  for  me.  I  am  also  quite  fond  of  her  children  ; 
they  are  very  lovely,  and  I  am  always  glad  when  she 
brings  them  with  her. 

"  I  have  had  the  happiness,  recently,  of  receiving  a 
letter  from  Mr.  Thompson  and  his  family.  Natalie  and 
Eva,  it  seems,  have  not  forgotten  me ;  and  this  delights 
me  more  than  I  can  express  ;  for  under  what  obligations 
have  I  not  been  placed  to  those  lovely  young  girls  and 
their  estimable  parents !  Uncle  was  anxious  to  have  a 
share  in  my  grateful  acknowledgments,  and  we  have  se- 
veral times  already  sent  them  boxes  of  our  American 
productions  and  luxuries,  little  attentions  which  they 
seem  to  enjoy  very  much. 

"  I  hope,  my  dear  parents,  that  you  also  derive  some 
pleasure  from  our  little  presents.  It  is  I  who  get  them 
all  up  for  you,  and  in  doing  so,  I  bathe  with  my  tears 
every  article  sent  you  !  But  I  do  not  wish  to  make  you 
sad  ;  on  the  contrary,  I  want  you  to  remember  nothing 
but  the  joy  I  shall  feel  when  I  can  announce  the  time 
of  our  departure  for  France. 

"  Ellen  McDougall  is  always  the  same  devoted  friend, 
and  we  see  each  Qther  very  frequently.  Uncle  is  also 
very  much  attached  to  this  dear,  good  girl,  consequently 
there  is  no  obstacle  to  our  intimacy.  When  with  Ellen, 
I  am  always  reminded  of  Leonie  Hermier ;  Leonie  is 
more  cheerful  and  lively  than  Ellen  ;  but  both  are  sensi- 
ble and  affectionate,  and  I  consider  myself  extremely 
fortunate  in  having  two  such  friends. 

"  Do  not  neglect,  my  dear  parents,  to  keep  me  con- 


126  THE  fisherman's   DAUGHTER. 

stantly  informed  of  Leonie's  condition,  and  whether  she 
will  return  very  soon  to  France.  When  you  write  to 
Madame  Hermier,  beg  her  to  say  to  my  poor  friend,  how 
deeply  grieved  I  have  been  to  hear  of  her  illness. 

"And  dear  Celestin,  will  he  return  very  soon  to 
Havre  }  and  does  he  often  write  to  you  .'* 

"  I  have  commenced  my  letter  by  making  all  manner 
of  requests  of  you.  I  should  now,  I  suppose,  give  you 
some  particulars  about  myself  and  my  every  day  life.  It 
is  very  simple,  and  very  much  the  same  as  I  have  already 
described  it  to  you.  In  the  mornings,  to  the  continued 
astonishment  of  those  around  me,  I  rise  very  early.  I 
read  and  study,  and  as  often  as  possible  go  to  mass. 
But,  unfortunately,  the  nearest  church  is  at  New-Orleans, 
which  is  about  fifteen  miles  from  The  Acacias.  Uncle 
although  so  indulgent  in  every  other  respect,  will  not 
consent  for  me  to  go,  except  on  Sundays ;  and  always 
finds  some  pretext  to  keep  me  at  home.  To  compensate 
for  this  deprivation,  the  pastor  comes  occasionally  to 
visit  us. 

"  The  Abb^  Durand  is  not  yet  an  old  man  ;  but  the 
life  of  a  priest  in  this  country  is  attended  by  such  inces- 
sant fatigue  and  constant  labor  that  the  locks  of  this 
good  father  are  already  blanched,  an^  he  has  the  appear- 
ance of  an  old  man. 

"  I  enjoy  his  visits  very  much  ;  he  understands  my 
uncle  perfectly,  and  without  seeming  to  intend  it  he  says 
many  excellent  things  to  him,  and  especially  on  the  subject 
of  slavery.  He  never  fails  to  visit  the  "  negro  quarter," 
where  his  presence  and  counsel  seem  to  be  well  received. 
The  slaves  are  all  Protestants,  generally  Baptists,  though 


THE   fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  12/ 

some  are  Methodists  ;  but  whatever  creed  they  may  pro- 
fess, they  are  obliged  to  be  impressed  with  the  genuine 
goodness  and  piety  of  the  Abbe  Durand. 

"  The  afternoon  is  usually  devoted  by  my  uncle  to 
the  enjoyment  of  his  siesta,  as  is  the  custom  with  all 
Southern  people  ;  at  five  o'clock  I  rejoin  him  and  leave 
him  no  more  until  he  retires  for  the  night. 

"  I  am  still  taking  lessons,  and  my  professors  assure 
me  that  I  am  quite  proficient  in  music  and  drawing.  I 
have  by  no  means  neglected  the  other  branches  of  edu- 
cation, as  I  am  most  ambitious  to  render  myself  worthy 
of  the  advantages  lavished  on  me  through  the  indulgent 
kindness  of  my  uncle. 

"  When,  by  accident,  I  find  myself  alone,  I  sew,  and 
am  assisted  in  this  by  the  two  quadroons  already  men- 
tioned, Betty  and  Malcy.  I  try  to  instruct  these  young 
girls  on  every  subject  possible,  and  endeavor  especially 
to  enlighten  their  understandings  with  the  truths  of 
Catholic  faith.  I  have  not  found  this  very  difficult  to 
do,  as  they  both  have  great  confidence  in  me. 

"  I  have  not  neglected  little  Wilkie  either ;  he  be- 
comes every  day  more  intelligent,  and  uncle  having  given 
him  to  me,  as  my  own  "property,"  I  am  at  liberty  to  as- 
sume the  entire  control  of  him,  and  keep  him  removed 
from  those  who  would  corrupt  and  lead  him  astray.  He 
is  almost  constantly  with  me,  and  always  accompanies 
me  in  my  walks.  Sam  and  Cassy  have  been,  through  my 
influence,  excused  from  working  out  in  the  fields,  and 
are  now  employed  as  house-servants. 

"  I  am  told  that  Archy  escaped  from  a  grand  hunting 
party  organized  by  Edwards,  and  sent,  with  his  blood- 


128  THE   fisherman's  DAUGHTER. 

hounds,  to  capture  the  runaway.     I  know  not  how  he  was 
informed  of  Archy's  visit. 

"  If  it  were  only  left  to  me,  how  quickly  every  thing 
here  would  be  changed  !  But  what  can  I  do  ?  Pray  and 
hope  !  And  surely  I  will  not  fail  to  do  that.  My  dear 
parents,  pray  also  for  your  child. 

"  During  my  leisure  moments,  I  have  made  a  sketch 
of  White  Cottage ;  I  have  also  sketched,  from  memory, 
liknesses  of  you  all.  They  are,  of  course,  very  imper- 
fect ;  but  having  even  such  portraits  reconciles  me  in 
some  degree  to  this  cruel  separation,  so  far  from  you. 

"  After  a  while,  I  will  send  you  a  portrait  of  myself, 
also  my  own  work ;  I  shall  be  very  much  delighted  if 
you  think  it  good. 

"  And  now,  what  more  can  I  tell  you .''  I  believe  no- 
thing else,  without  repeating  something  I  have  written  in 
my  former  letters ;  as  my  days  here  are  usually  repeti- 
tions of  each  other. 

"  Adieu,  then,  my  dearest  father  and  mother,  or  rather 
I  should  say  au  revoir,  the  word  adieu  is  too  sad,  and  I 
require  to  have  my  courage  kept  up,  and  all  the  cheer- 
fulness of  my  nature  aroused,  in  order  to  sustain  in  my 
heart  the  hope  of  seeing  you  very  soon. 

"I  beg  you  to  kiss  dear  little  Henry  for  me,  also 
Emily,  and  if  my  brother  Celestin  has  returned,  tell  him 
not  to  forget  his  sister,  who  lets  not  a  single  day  pass 
without  thinking  of  him. 

"  Au  revoir,  dearest  father ;  au  revoir,  dearest  mother ; 
only  love  me  half  as  dearly  as  you  are  loved  by 

"  Your  devoted 

"  Henrietta." 


THE   fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  129 

In  every  letter  a  little  note  was  inclosed  from  her 
uncle,  who  would  let  no  opportunity  pass  of  thanking 
his  brother  and  sister-in-law  for  their  kindness  in  send- 
ing Henrietta  to  live  with  him.  The  joy  of  her  presence 
was  to  the  planter  an  inexhaustible  theme.  However 
Anthony  and  Margaret,  pleased  as  they  were  by  these 
testimonials  of  affection,  began  to  grow  impatient  at  the 
long  absence  of  their  child. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

A  MORNING  WALK — CAMP  OF  THE  RUNAWAY  NEGROES. 

It  was  a  beautiful  morning  in  the  month  of  March ; 
the  sun  rose  in  great  splendor,  and  all  nature  seemed  to 
wear  a  festive  appearance.  The  flowers  opened  their 
perfumed  chalices,  the  birds  sang  their  sweetest  songs, 
even  the  grass  seemed  fresher,  and  of  a  more  brilliant 
green  than  usual.  Henrietta  determined  to  take  advan- 
tage of  the  early  hours  of  this  delicious  morning,  and 
after  obtaining  her  uncle's  permission,  started  out  for  a 
long  walk,  taking  with  her  Betty,  Malcy,  and  the  little 
negro  Wilkie. 

They  directed  their  steps  toward  a  small  river,  bor- 
dering on  the  west  of  the  plantation.  This  water-course 
with  its  banks,  rendered  beautifully  picturesque  by  the 
thick  heavy  foliage  of  innumerable  trees  coveting  them, 
promised  a  cool  and  inviting  shade. 

They  had  scarcely  reached  the  cover  of  the  trees,  be- 
fore Henrietta  began  to  inhale  the  delightful  fragance 
exhaled  by  the  leaves  and  flowers,  and  borne  upon  the 
cool  refreshing  breeze  from  the  water.  Festoons  of  the 
odorous  yellow  jasmine,  covered  the  trees  in  wild  profu- 
sion, and  hung  across  the  pathway  in  tangled  masses, 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  I31 

which  slight  obstacles  the  gay  promenaders,  with  child- 
like joy,  leaped  over  or  gayly  put  aside.  The  air  was 
filled  with  those  indefinable  sounds  produced  by  awaken- 
ing nature  on  all  such  bright  summer  mornings,  mingled 
with  the  joyous  notes  of  thousands  of  feathered  songsters 
of  the  forest.  The  eye  was  gladdened  by  the  bright  ver- 
dure, and  the  view  of  the  rippling  waves  of  the  crystal- 
line river,  and  invited  to  follow  the  movements  of  the 
graceful  little  humming  birds,  so  aptly  and  poetically 
called  "nature's  animated  flowers."  Thousands  and 
thousands  of  brilliant  insects  of  the  brightest  and  most 
beautiful  colors  were  flying  and  buzzing  in  swarms 
through  the  air.     All  was  life,  animation,  and  beauty. 

"  Henrietta,  enraptured  by  the  scene,  had  not  noticed 
that  the  road  she  had  taken  was  becoming  more  and 
more  solitary,  and  now  began  to  assume  a  wild  and  isolated 
appearance.  The  trailing  vines  and  honeysuckles  hung 
in  more  profuse  and  thickly  tangled  masses,  and  the  lit- 
tle foot-paths,  bordering  on  the  river,  were  becoming 
few  and  almost  untrodden. 

At  length,  feeling  fatigued,  Henrietta  seated  herself 
on  the  trunk  of  a  fallen  tree,  but  only  after  Wilkie  and 
Malcy  had  made  a  careful  examination,  and  were  sure 
that  no  hidden  reptile  lurked  about  the  improvised  seat. 
In  the  mean  time,  Betty  took  from  a  light  basket  she  car- 
ried, a  collation  which  she  soon  arranged  tastefully  on 
the  grass. 

"How  delightful  this  is!"  exclaimed  Henrietta; 
"what  a  quiet,  lovely  spot,  perfectly  charming!" 

"But  O  Miss  Henrietta!"  replied  Malcy  earnestly, 
"  let  me  beg  you  to  look  around,  and  see  how  lonesome 


132  THE  FISHERMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

and  out  of  the  way  this  place  is.     Indeed,  it  will  not  be 
safe  for  us  to  stay  here  very  long,  ma'am." 

"And  why  not  ?" 

"  Because  places  like  this  are  generally  frequented  by 
runaway  negroes.  If  they  found  us  here,  what  would 
become  of  us .''" 

"Indeed!  is  that  so.?"  replied  Henrietta;  "come, 
then,  let  us  hasten  and  eat  our  breakfast,  and  then  we- 
will  go," 

At  this  moment  Wilkie  approached  his  young  mis- 
tress, and  pretending  to  be  picking  up  something  on  the 
ground  near  her,  said,  in  a  low  voice, 

"  Miss  Henrietta,  there  is  somebody  in  the  bushes 
watching  us." 

"  Are  you  certain  of  that,  Wilkie  .'*" 

"  Oh !  yes,  ma'am ;  just  look  over  there  to  the  right  of 
us,  among  those  reeds  on  the  river  bank.  I  see  two 
bright  shining  eyes " 

"And  me  too,"  said  Betty.  "I  see  somebody  there 
plain  enough.  For  God's  sake,  Miss  Henrietta,  don't 
look  frightened,  but  just  talk  on,  unconcerned:  like  you 
didn't  suspect  nothing.  May  be  they  won't  trouble  us, 
and  we'll  try  and  get  away  from  this  place  as  quick 
as  possible." 

Henrietta  arose  quietly,  and,  concealing  her  alarm, 
started  on,  carelessly  telling  the  servants  to  follow  her. 

She  had  not  proceeded  a  hundred  paces,  when  she 
felt  her  arms  seized  from  behind,  and  some  kind  of  a 
covering  thrown  over  her  head.  She  was  hurried  rapidly 
forward.  In  vain  she  endeavored  to  scream ;  the  cover- 
ing around  her  head  was  drawn  across  her  mouth,  stif- 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  1 33 

ling  her  voice,  and  as  she  heard  no  sound  from  the  ser- 
vants, she  concluded  they  had  been  made  to  submit  to 
the  same  treatment.  She  was  so  terror-stricken,  poor 
girl,  as  to  be  almost  deprived  of  consciousness ;  and  had 
scarcely  strength  to  commend  herself  to  God,  and  in- 
voke His  assistance. 

After  a  quarter  of  an  hour's  rapid  march,  she  was 
carried  across  the  river ;  at  least  she  thought  she  heard 
the  sound  of  running  water.  A  few  minutes  later,  and 
she  was  deposited  on  the  bank,  and  the  covering  re- 
moved from  her  eyes,  though  her  mouth  was  still  left 
bandaged. 

The  scene  that  presented  itself  to  Henrietta's  gaze 
was  certainly  calculated  to  inspire  the  utmost  terror. 
Twenty-five  or  thirty  negroes  and  mulattoes  had  aban- 
doned their  preparations  for  breakfast,  and  come  to  ex- 
amine the  prisoners  ;  for  Betty,  Malcy,  and  Wilkie  were 
all  there,  closely  bound  and  tied.  Some  of  the  runa- 
ways (for  they  were  readily  recognized  as  such),  armed 
with  long  knives,  and  some  kind  of  huge  knotted  clubs, 
gesticulated  violently,  and  uttered  the  most  threatening 
exclamations,  announcing  their  determination  to  kill  the 
prisoners  on  the  spot. 

But  a  mulatto,  of  herculean  stature,  cut  short  this 
harangue,  by  reminding  them  that  they  would  have  to 
await  the  return  of  their  chief  or  leader.  In  the  mean 
time,  these  ferocious  creatures  to  whom  the  mulatto  ad- 
dressed himself,  began  to  overwhelm  Henrietta  and  her 
attendants  with  the  most  violent  abuse.  They  reproach- 
ed the  young  girl  with  having  cruelly  tyrannized  over  the 


134  THE   FISHERMAN'S  DAUGHTER. 

slaves,  and  condemned  Betty  and  Malcy  for  being  so  de- 
graded and  cowardly  as  to  remain  with  their  master. 

Very  soon,  and  while  they  were  waiting  for  the  arri- 
val of  the  chief  of  the  gang,  the  excitement  in  the  camp 
reached  such  a  height  that  poor  Henrietta  silently  com- 
mended her  soul  to  God,  in  anticipation  of  a  speedy 
death.  The  threats  and  vociferations  redoubled,  and 
the  mulatto  seemed  no  longer  able  to  restrain  his  com- 
rades, or  prevent  them  carrying  their  murderous  designs 
into  immediate  execution,  when  the  cry  was  heard,  "  The 
chief,  the  chief!"  and  all  rushed  out  to  meet  him.  An- 
other moment,  and  he  stood  before  the  prisoners,  on  re- 
cognizing whom,  he  immediately  uttered  an  exclamation 
of  surprise. 

"What!"  he  exclaimed  sternly,  "how  could  you  ever 
have  committed  such  a  blunder  as  this!"  And  before 
they  had  time  to  divine  his  intention,  he  had  torn  away 
the  cords  and  bandages  from  Henrietta  and  her  attend- 
ants. 

A  loud  murmur  of  disapprobation  arose  from  the 
group,  and  a  number  of  the  runaways  approached  the 
leader  in  order  to  remonstrate ;  but  with  a  wave  of  his 
hand  he  motioned  them  back. 

"Listen  to  me,"  he  exclaimed,  in  a  voice  of  authori- 
ty; "you  know  I  have  never  deceived  you.  Well,  this 
white  person,  far  from  being  cruel  to  the  negroes,  has  al- 
ways been  their  friend.  Ask  my  brother  there,  who  it 
was  nursed  and  waited  on  him  through  the  yellow-fever  ? 
Ask  those  two  girls,  if  it  were  not  for  this  young  lady,  if 
they  would  not  be  kept  out,  working  like  brutes  in  the 
field  ?     And  me  too — she  saved  me ;  when  I  stole  in  to 


THE  FISHERMAN  S   DAUGHTER.  I35 

see  my  sick  mother,  if  she  had  betrayed  me  to  the  over- 
seer, as  she  might  have  done,  you  know  what  I  would 
have  suffered ;  the  most  cruel  beatings,  and,  may  be,  been 
whipped  to  death ;  any  how,  if  they  had  not  killed  me, 
they  would  have  put  me  back  into  a  harder  slavery  than 
before !  But  Miss  Henrietta  saved  me,  and  now  my 
friends,  say,  do  you  still  want  to  kill  her?" 

This  harangue  of  Archy — for  it  was  he — seemed  to 
make  a  powerful  impression  on  the  greater  number  of 
the  runaways.  Some  of  them,  however,  still  threatened 
and  exhorted  their  comrades  not  to  listen  to  the  chief. 
At  this  juncture,  Wilkie  sprang  up,  and  rushed  into  the 
midst  of  the  rebels. 

"  Listen  to  me  also,"  he  cried,  with  flashing  eyes, 
and  his  little  hand  raised  as  if  to  defend  his  young  mis- 
tress ;  "  all  that  my  brother  has  told  you  is  true,  and  be- 
sides, he  has  not  told  you  that  Miss  Henrietta  is  the  only 
dependence,  the  saviour  of  the  slaves  in  the  house.  If 
you  only  knew  how  good  she  is  to  us  all,  how  she  tries 
to  lighten  our  work,  and  to  keep  us  from  being  punish- 
ed !  Betty,"  he  cried,  turning  toward  the  two  quad- 
roons, "  come  here,  you  and  Malcy,  and  say  if  I  have 
not  told  the  truth;  say,  both  of  you,  if,  since  Miss  Hen- 
rietta came,  she  has  not  kept  us  all  from  being  whipped 
and  beaten  by  that  wicked  Mrs.  Edwards  ?" 

"  Yes,  yes,"  the  two  girls  hastened  to  reply.  "  In- 
deed, she  has  done  every  thing  for  us ;  our  young  mis- 
tress is  our  saviour,  and  it  would  be  a  shame  and  a  cry- 
ing sin  for  any  body  to  do  her  any  harm." 

Until  this  time,  Henrietta  had  been  so  terrified  and 
entirely  bewildered  by  her  situation,  that  after  Archy 's 


136  THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER. 

arrival  she  had  not  been  able  to  utter  a  word ;  but  on 
hearing  herself  so  warmly  defended,  her  presence  of 
mind  gradually  returned.  After  a  moment's  silence,  dur- 
ing which  she  calmly  surveyed  her  persecutors,  she  sum- 
moned up  all  her  courage  and  said, 

"  They  have  told  you  the  truth  in  assuring  you  that  I 
have  tried  to  do  every  thing  possible  for  the  slaves,  and 
to  protect  them,  as  far  as  has  been  in  my  power ;  and 
yet,  nobody  has  greater  reason  than  myself,  perhaps,  to 
cherish  feelings  of  resentment  against  your  race.  Two 
years  ago  I  left  my  own  country  and  family  and  came  to 
Louisiana  to  live  with  my  father's  brother.  The  vessel 
that  brought  me  over  landed  on  the  coast  of  Africa. 
There,  in  consequence  of  an  affray  which  came  near  be- 
ing fatal  to  all  who  accompanied  me,  I  found  myself  a 
prisoner  in  the  hands  of  the  negroes.  I  can  not  describe 
the  sufferings  they  inflicted  on  me,  a  total  stranger  to 
them,  and  one  who  had  never  done  them  any  harm ;  the  re- 
collection is  too  painful  to  dwell  upon.  Know,  howev- 
er, that  it  was  their  intention  to  murder  me,  and  offer  me 
up  at  one  of  their  public  feasts,- as  a  sacrifice  to  their 
idols.  But  God  saved  my  life,  and  delivered  me  out  of 
their  hands.  I  escaped  from  the  awful  dangers  that  sur- 
rounded me,  and  reaching  some  of  my  own  race,  they 
assisted  me  in  getting  to  this  country.  On  entering  my 
uncle's  house  at  New-Orleans,  the  first  sight  of  the  slaves 
recalled  so  vividly  the  sufferings  I  had  experienced  in 
Africa,  that  I  could  with  difficulty  conceal  my  aversion 
and  horror.  And  yet,  from  that  day,  I  determined  to  do 
all  for  them  in  my  power,  and  to  render  them  as  happy 
as  possible  in  their  condition. 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  1 37 

"  Do  you  know,"  continued  Henrietta,  with  increased 
energy  of  voice  and  manner,  "  do  you  know  why  I  tried 
to  forget  my  resentment  ?  It  was  because  I  am  a  Chris- 
tian, and  the  God  I  worship  commands  me  to  render 
good  for  evil.  That  command  I  have  gladly  executed 
in  behalf  of  your  people,  because  I  believe  that  negroes 
are  no  more  wicked  or  depraved  than  other  men.  Their 
eyes  have  never  been  opened  to  the  light  of  truth ;  that 
is  why  they  are  inspired  with  feelings  of  revenge.  Ah ! 
well,  if  by  taking  my  life,  you  think  you  will  be  repaid ' 
for  your  past  sufferings  and  wrongs,  take  it ;  and  with 
my  last  breath  I  will  continue  to  pray  for  you,  that  God 
may  forgive  you,  and  restore  your  race  yet  to  liberty." 

These  generous  sentiments  finished  what  Archy  and 
the  servants  of  Henrietta  had  commenced.  Tears  filled 
the  eyes  of  these  savage  men,  who,  for  years,  had  never 
felt  an  impulse  of  humanity  or  compassion.  With  a 
unanimous  voice,  they  swore  to  protect  and  defend  the 
young  girl  to  the  utmost  extremity  of  devotion,  and  at 
once  informed  her  that  she  was  at  liberty  to  return 
home. 

"  Permit  us,  however,"  they  said,  "  to  again  bandage 
your  eyes,  and  conduct  you  to  a  safe  distance  from  our 
camp.  It  is  not  because  we  suspect  you,  but  your  safe- 
ty might  be  compromised  by  an  involuntary  indiscre- 
tion ;  and  besides,  miss,  when  you  get  back  into  the 
road,  walk  as  fast  as  possible,  for  Dick  might  overtake 
you,  and  nobody  can  escape  from  him." 

Henrietta  accepted  these  conditions  for  herself  and 
her  companions.  A  quarter  of  an  hour  later,  Archy  re- 
moved the  bandages  from  their  eyes,  and  after  taking  a 


138  THE  fisherman's   DAUGHTER. 

respectful  leave  of  his  young  mistress,  and  embracing  his 
brother  affectionately,  he  left  them  and  returned  to  the 
swamps. 

The  excitement  which  had, 'Until  this  time,  sustained 
Henrietta,  was  too  intense  to  continue.  A  reaction  very 
soon  took  place,  and  she  for  a  moment  feared  she  would 
not  have  sufficient  strength  to  enable  her  to  reach  the 
house. 

"  O  Miss  Henrietta ! "  exclaimed  the  two  quad- 
•Toons,  "you  don't  know  how  terribly  frightened  we  felt 
about  you  !  But  we  beseech  you  to  say  nothing  to  mas- 
ter, about  what  has  happened ;  because  he  will  immedi- 
ately send  out  to  hunt  them  with  the  hounds  and  the 
overseer,  and  these  poor  runaways  might  be  brought 
back,  and  then,  oh !  such  dreadful  times  as  we  would 
have  here !" 

Henrietta  herself,  judging  that  silence  might  be  ne- 
cessary, at  least  for  the  time,  assured  the  quadroons  that 
she  would  not  betray  the  secret. 

The  first  person  she  met,  on  entering  the  house,  was 
her  uncle,  who,  alarmed  at  the  prolonged  absence  of  his 
niece,  was  just  dispatching  a  messenger  to  look  for 
her. 

The  planter  was  shocked  on  beholding  the  extreme 
pallor  and  exhaustion  of  Henrietta,  who  hastily  assured 
him  that  it  was  only  the  effect  of  a  slight  indisposition, 
and  nothing  at  all  serious. 

"  I  do  not  wish  you  to  take  any  more  such  long  walks 
unless  I  am  with  you,"  he  replied  ;  "  if  any  thing  should 
happen  to  you,  I  would  never  forgive  myself." 

Henrietta,  with  forced  smile,  replied  that  in  a  few 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  1 39 

hours  she  would  be  entirely  restored.  The  same  even- 
ing, when  she  made  her  appearance  at  tea,  all  traces  of 
indisposition  had  disappeared,  and  she  seemed  perfectly 
cheerful  and  well. 


CHAPTER    XXV. 
MR.  lebrun's  illness— sufferings  of   the   slaves— 

THE    INSURRECTION. 

Henrietta  resolved  to  inform  the  Abbe  Durand, 
under  the  seal  of  secrecy,  of  all  that  had  occurred.  She 
believed  it  possible  that  the  good  priest  would  find  some 
means  of  assisting  the  unfortunate  runaways,  and  per- 
haps reconciling  them  to  their  master.  But  an  unex- 
pected event  prevented  her  from  carrying  out  her  de- 
sign. Mr.  Lebrun  was  taken  violently  ill,  and  Henriet- 
ta's time  and  attention  were  immediately  devoted  entire- 
ly to  her  uncle.  After  a  few  days,  finding  that  she 
would  be  unable  to  absent  herself  to  go  to  New-Orleans, 
she  determined  to  write  and  beg  the  Abbe  Durand  to 
visit  her ;  but  the  servant  charged  with  the  commission 
returned,  and  announced  that  the  Abbe  had  just  started 
on  a  journey,  to  be  absent  two  months. 

The  condition  of  Mr.  Lebrun  grew  each  day  more 
and  more  alarming.  Henrietta,  forgetting  in  the  great 
anxiety  she  felt,  that  she  had  failed  to  secure  the  advice 
of  the  priest  on  a  most  momentous  subject,  thought  of 
nothing  but  applying  herself,  heart  and  soul,  to  the  care 
of  her  uncle,  to  amuse  and  divert  his  mind  as  far  as 
possible  from  his  sufferings. 

The  physicians  were  apprehensive  of  a  general  para- 
lysis of  the  system,  but  added  that,  in  any  event,  the  ill- 


THE  fisherman's  daughter.  -  141 

ness  would  be  a  prolonged  and  serious  one.  Their  prog- 
nostications were  realized ;  it  was  soon  with  the  greatest 
difficulty  the  invalid  could  be  moved,  even  occasionally, 
from  his  bed  to  an  easy-chair,  in  order  to  rest  him ;  the 
slightest  movement  causing  him  to  utter  the  most  dis- 
tressing groans  of  anguish. 

Unable  to  read  or  write,  Mr.  Lebrun  would  have 
died  of  ennui  but  for  the  companionship  of  his  niece. 
Always  cheerful  and  affectionate,  she  exerted  herself  in  a 
thousand  ways  to  divert  him.  That  she  might  constant- 
ly be  near  him,  she  had  her  piano,  her  little  library,  her 
work-table,  and  painting  materials,  all  moved  into  his 
chamber.  While  awake,  she  read  aloud  to  him,  from 
such  works  as  she  knew  would  amuse  him  and  divert 
his  mind  from  his  condition.  She  played  and  sang  his 
favorite  songs  and  conversed  with  him,  always  carefully 
avoiding  other  than  the  most  cheerful  subjects.  While 
he  slept,  she  watched  by  his  bedside,  engaged  with  her 
embroidery  or  drawing.  She  was  constantly  assisted  in 
her  task  by  Ellen  McDougall,  and  it  was  doubly  pleas- 
ing to  see  these  two  amiable  young  girls  earnestly  vying 
with  each  other  in  their  efforts  to  call  to  the  lips  of  the 
weary  invalid  a  smile  of  satisfaction. 

Days  glided  by  without  any  perceptible  change  in 
the  condition  of  Mr.  Lebrun.  More  than  a  month  had 
passed,  and  the  physicians,  anxiously  interrogated  by 
Henrietta,  confirmed  their  first  opinion. 
■ —  "  And  do  you  think,"  she  added,  wiping  the  tears 
from  her  eyes,  "  that  by  careful  nursing,  I  may  yet  be 
able  to  keep  my  uncle  for  a  long  time  with  us  .'" 

The  physicians  assured  her  that  the  invalid  might 


142  THE   fisherman's   DAUGHTER. 

live  many  years,  especially  if  no  new  complications  of 
the  disease  were  developed. 

The  life  that  Henrietta  would  henceforth  have  to  lead 
might  have  seemed  gloomy  enough,  but  she  did  not  view  it 
in  that  light.  Profoundly  grateful  for  the  benefits  her  un- 
cle had  bestowed  on  herself  and  her  family  (as  well  as  all 
he  anticipated  doing  for  them  in  the  future),  the  thoughts 
of  the  young  girl  took  but  one  direction,  and  that  was,  to 
endeavor,  by  the  most  devoted  care  and  attention  to  her 
uncle,  to  testify  the  gratitude  she  felt  for  all  he  had  done 
and  intended  doing  for  her  family. 

It  will  be  readily  understood  how,  in  consequence  of 
the  planter's  illness,  and  Henrietta's  exclusive  devotion 
to  him,  the  overseer  and  his  wife  were  enabled  to  regain 
almost  entirely  their  old  authority  over  the  slaves  on  the 
plantation.  The  entire  house  groaned  under  the  iron 
yoke  of  Mrs.  Edwards,  while  the  slaves  employed  in  the 
fields  were  more  than  ever  subjected  to  the  cruel  treat- 
ment of  her  husband. 

But  all  this  came  to  an  end.  The  overseer  and  his 
wife,  fearing  they  might  lose  their  situations  in  conse- 
quence of  the  planter's  death  (which  might  occur  at 
any  time),  determined  to  increase,  as  rapidly  as  possi- 
ble, the  small  fortune  they  had  already  amassed  by 
fraud  and  dishonesty.  With  more  audacity  than  ever 
before,  the  overseer  converted  large  amounts  to  his  own 
benefit,  which  should  have  been  returned  to  Mr.  Lebrun. 
He  concealed  the  actual  receipts,  and  exaggerated  the 
expenses  ;  in  a  word,  used  every  possible  means  of  ap- 
propriating to  himself  the  greater  portion  of  the  revenues 
of  the  estate. 


THE   FISHERMAN  S   DAUGHTER.  I43 

At  one  time  his  calculations  came  near  being  frus- 
trated. Mr.  Lebrun,  alarmed  at  the  course  affairs  had 
taken,  expressed  his  intention  of  employing  an  assis- 
tant overseer,  who  would  be  required  to  render  him  an 
exact  account  of  the  most  minute  expenditures.  Ed- 
wards thus  understood  that  he  had  gone  too  far,  and  at 
once  commenced  leaving  a  larger  margin  to  his  receipts ; 
but  as  he  could  not  bring  himself  to  decide  upon  renounc- 
ing the  immense  acquisitions  he  had  been  so  rapidly  accu- 
mulating, he  determined,  by  overworking  and  otherwise 
wronging  the  slaves,  to  regain  what  he  regarded  as  per- 
sonal losses. 

Their  rations  were  consequently  diminished  to  such 
an  extent  that  the  unfortunate  creatures  had  scarcely  suf- 
ficient to  keep  them  from  starving,  while  at  the  same 
time  their  tasks  were  redoubled.  A  number  of  slaves 
died  from  the  effects  of  this  regimen  ;  Edwards  careful- 
ly prevented  the  planter  from  being  informed  of  this, 
and  compelled  the  survivors,  at  the  point  of  the  lash,  to 
redoubled  exertions  in  order  to  make  up  the  deficiency. 

Nothing  was  neglected  in  carrying  out  this  system  of 
oppression  ;  and  doubtless,  had  it  not  been  for  the  pre- 
sence of  Henrietta,  Edwards  and  his  wife,  taking  advan- 
tage of  the  enfeebled  condition  of  the  planter,  would 
have  succeeded  in  secluding  him  from  all  communica- 
tion with  his  friends,  and  in  that  way  shortening  his 
days.  The  young  girl,  believing  that  matters  were  not 
going  right  in  the  house,  several  times  expressed  her  con- 
victions on  the  subject  to  Mrs.  Edwards.  But  the  latter, 
with  her  usual  consummate  adroitness,  readily  diverted 
her    suspicions,   and   very    soon    Henrietta's    attention 


144  THE  fisherman's  daughter. 

would  again  be  entirely  centred  in  the  care  of  her  in- 
valid uncle. 

She  had  appointed  Betty  and  Malcy  to  assist  her  in 
nursing,  an  arrangement  which  of  course,  excited  the 
sovereign  displeasure  of  the  overseer's  wife.  And  Wilkie 
was  also  constantly  in  the  chamber,  ready  to  attend 
himself  to  the  slightest  order  or  errand,  or  see  that  it 
was  done  promptly. 

In  conversing  with  his  niece,  it  sometimes  happened 
that  Mr.  Lebrun  would  express  his  fears  lest  she  should 
become  unhappy  on  account  of  not  being  able  to  return 
to  France. 

"  My  dearest  uncle,"  Henrietta  replied  one  day,  "  I 
would  be  glad  if  you  would  banish  all  such  thoughts. 
How  could  I  regret  having  an  opportunity  of  proving 
my  gratitude  and  affection  for  you !  I  often  think  of 
France,  I  confess,  and  it  would  indeed  be  a  great  plea- 
sure to  see  my  beloved  parents  again ;  but  if  you  wish  to 
send  me  back  to  them  now,  I  should,  for  the  first  time, 
be  under  the  necessity  of  disobeying  you.  My  parents 
have  another  daughter,  and  a  son,  who  console  them 
during  my  absence,  or  enable  them  to  wait  more  patient- 
ly my  return.  But  you,  my  dear  uncle,  are  here  all 
alone.  It  is  true  you  have  friends  who  are  devoted  to 
you ;  but  even  they  can  not  love  you  as  I  do — I,  who  am 
indebted  to  you  for  the  peace  and  prosperity  enjoyed 
by  my  parents,  for  my  education,  my  happiness,  in  a 
word,  for  every  thing  I  am  or  enjoy  !"  And  Henrietta 
threw  her  arms  around  her  uncle's  neck  and  embraced 
him  affectionately. 


THE   fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  I45 

Too  deeply  moved  to  reply  at  once,  Mr.  Lebrun  sat 
with  tears  of  joy  silently  coursing  down  his  cheeks. 

"As  soon  as  I  recover  my  health,"  he  said  at  last,  "  I 
promise  you,  dear  child,  that  you  shall  be  made  perfect- 
ly happy." 

It  was  now  the  young  girl's  turn  to  shed  tears  of  joy. 
"  Perfectly  happy  !"  she  repeated  mentally,  "  O  my  God  ! 
I  thank  Thee  for  this  hope !" 

Then  for  her  all  care  seemed  banished.  Her  uncle 
would  soon  be  well !  She  already  imagined  herself  at 
home  with  her  parents  and  her  uncle !  Will  the  future 
bring  the  realization  of  that  dream  ? 

In  the  mean  time  the  sufferings  of  the  slaves  contin- 
ued to  increase,  and  their  condition  became  so  intolera- 
ble that  the  more  desperate  among  them  resolved  to  put 
an  end  to  it. 

Notwithstanding  the  overseer's  vigilance,  they  estab- 
lished a  correspondence  with  the  runaway  slaves  (the 
same  who  had  taken  Henrietta  prisoner),  and  the  secret 
was  so  well  kept  that  no  suspicion  was  aroused. 

In  order  to  prevent  all  possibility  of  treachery,  a  gen- 
eral meeting  was  called,  and  the  slaves  all  made  to  take 
a  solemn  oath  not  to  disclose  the  plot  under  penalty  of 
death. 

Sam  and  Archy  were  both  present  at  this  meeting, 
and  endeavored  to  stipulate  for  the  safety  of  Hen- 
rietta; but  they  were  refused,  and  forced  to  give  up 
and  trust  in  Providence  for  the  result.  The  rage  of 
their  companions  was  excited  to  such  a  degree  that  the 
savage  men  were  unable  to  comprehend  any  thing  but 
revenge. 


146  THE   fisherman's   DAUGHTER. 

Dick,  the  runaway  whom  Edwards  had  formerly 
punished  in  the  most  unmerciful  manner,  and  whose 
children  had  been  sold  by  the  overseer,  had  sworn  to  de- 
stroy every  thing  about  the  plantation,  and  would  not 
tolerate  the  proposal  to  spare  Henrietta. 

"  If  I  had  been  on  the  island  when  that  young  wo- 
man was  brought  there,  things  wouldn't  have  turned  out 
as  they  did.  I'd  have  shown  them  very  different,"  he 
said,  with  a  threatening  gesture.  Dick  had  been  the 
ringleader  of  the  conspiracy.  For  a  long  time  he 
had  been  urging  them  on  to  an  insurrection.  It  was 
he  who,  during  the  confusion  prevailing  at  The  Aca- 
cias on  the  occasion  of  the  grand  entertainment  given 
by  Mr.  Lebrun,  his  master,  had  tried  to  gain  over 
the  slaves  on  the  plantation  to  his  plans,  and  it  was  his 
voice  that  had  so  greatly  alarmed  Henrietta.  He,  at  that 
moment,  was  trying  to  persuade  two  or  three  of  his  old 
companions  in  slavery  that  this  would  be  the  most  favora- 
ble opportunity  they  would  have,  to  kill  all  the  whites 
while  they  were  asleep;  but  the  events  transpiring  in  the 
evening  put  an  end  to  all  idea  of  revolt,  which  had  begun 
to  spread  widely  and  make  great  progress  among  the 
slaves. 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

INSURRECTION    OF    THE    SLAVES. 

The  health  of  Mr.  Lebrun  showed  no  symptoms 
of  improvement,  but  fortunately  became  no  worse ;  for 
three  months  the  planter  remained  in  the  same  condition. 
His  physicians  seemed  to  have  renounced  all  hope  of  his 
recovery.  Nature,  they  said,  might  ultimately  triumph 
over  the  disease,  and  a  salutary  reaction  would  follow; 
but  they  could  give  no  positive  assurance  of  this  result. 

Henrietta  never  once  flagged  in  her  untiring  care  and 
devotion.  Every  day  she  seemed  to  find  some  new 
method  of  amusing  and  entertaining  the  poor  paralytic. 
Her  patience  never  wearied,  the  sunny  cheerfulness  of 
her  countenance  was  never  clouded  by  a  shadow  of  eti- 
nui.  The  sole  desire  of  her  heart  was  to  render  her  pre- 
sence as  agreeable  as  possible  to  her  uncle. 

On  several  occasions,  Mr.  Lebrun  had  spoken  of 
making  his  will.  One  morning,  after  suffering  much 
more  than  usual,  he  expressed  his  intention  of  doing  im- 
mediately what  he  considered  his  duty  in  this  respect. 
"  Because,"  he  added,  "  it  is  but  just  and  right  that  I 
should  bequeath  you  a  larger  share  of  my  property 
than  your  brothers  and  sister.  Even  then,  I  shall  never 
be  able  sufficiently  to  acknowledge  my  gratitude  for  your 
devotion." 


148  THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER. 

"  Dearest  uncle,"  replied  Henrietta,  "  I  beg  you  not 
to  think  of  making  your  will.  I  hope  it  may  be  a  long 
time  yet  before  it  will  be  necessary  for  you  to  trouble 
yourself  about  that.  Your  physicians  have  truly  said 
that  God  is  all-powerful,  and  if  He  desires  to  raise  you 
from  this  sick-bed.  He  is  able,  and  will  do  it.  Every  day 
I  pray  for  your  recovery.  It  would  be,  I  assure  you, 
doubly  painful  to  me,  to  lose  you  in  this  country.  But 
that  will  not  happen.  You  will  recover,  and  we  shall  re- 
turn to  our  beautiful  France,  our  beloved  Normandy, 
and  you  will  yet  spend  many  happy  years  in  the  bosom 
of  your  family." 

"  I  have  no  longer  any  hope  of  that,"  interrupted  the 
invalid.  "  Two  months  ago,  I  still  thought  my  recovery 
possible ;  but  I  see  very  well,  my  child,  I  must  renounce 
all  such  hopes.  I  shall  never  be  able  to  realize  the  in- 
tention I  had  formed  of  going  with  you  to  France,  as 
soon  as  my  health  would  permit ;  but  I  can,  at  least,  se- 
cure you  your  fortune,  as  I  have  always  intended  do- 
ing." 

"  My  dear  uncle,"  interrupted  the  young  girl,  "  I  do 
not  wish  to  offend  or  contradict  you  in  the  slightest 
thing ;  but  let  me  assure  you,  it  would  be  most  painful 
to  me  to  be  favored  more  than  ray  parents.  No,  I  beg 
you  to  make  no  will,  or,  if  you  are  absolutely  resolved  to 
do  it,  then  let  it  be  made  in  favor  of  my  father  and  mo- 
ther." 

"  But  my  object,"  replied  Mr.  Lebrun,  "  is  to  make  a 
special  disposition  in  your  favor,  as  a  reward  for  your 
constant  and  devoted  affection." 

"  I  have  no  need  of  a  recompense  for  having  loved 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  I49 

you.  And  moreover,  have  I  not  already  been  rewarded 
far  beyond  my  merits  ?  Is  it  not  to  you,  dearest  uncle,  I 
am  indebted  for  the  education  I  have  acquired,  and  for 
the  happiness  enjoyed  by  my  family  ?  What  more  could 
I  ask  ?" 

"  Dear,  good  child  !"  exclaimed  the  invalid,  moved  to 
tears.  "  May  God  spare  me  yet  a  long  time  with  you, 
before  calling  me  to  Himself;  the  thought  of  leaving 
you  is  the  only  regret  I  feel  at  the  approach  of  death." 

"  My  dear  uncle,"  responded  Henrietta,  sighing  deep- 
ly, "let  us  leave  this  gloomy  subject;  why  will  you  al- 
ways speak  of  dying,  when  there  is  no  reason  why  you 
should  despair  of  getting  well  ?  I  have  a  firm  hope  of 
your  recovery.  Do  not  try  to  destroy  my  confidence  in 
this  belief." 

At  this  moment,  a  confused  sound  was  heard,  coming 
from  the  direction  of  the  garden. 

"  What  is  that  ?"  demanded  Mr.  Lebrun.  Henrietta 
raised  the  window,  but  saw  nothing  unusual;  the  noise, 
however,  continued  to  increase.  She  felt  very  uneasy, 
although  she  gave  no  expression  to  her  fears. 

"It  is  the  wind,  perhaps,"  she  remarked,  without -dar- 
ing to  betray  her  anxiety  to  her  uncle. 

"The  wind!"  repeated  Mr.  Lebrun.  "But,  no!  I 
hear  loud  cries,  and  all  sorts  of  confused  noises."  In 
fact,  furious  cries,  and  loud  clamors  of  every  kind,  could 
now  be  readily  distinguished. 

The  perspiration  commenced  pouring  down  the  inva- 
lid's face. 

"  This  is  incomprehensible,"  he  murmured.  "  What 
can  it  mean  .''" 


150  THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER. 

*'  My  God !  my  God !"  cried  Henrietta,  sinking  on  her 
knees  before  her  uncle.  "  We  are  lost !  and  it  is  I  who 
have  brought  this  upon  you  !" 

"  You  !  Why,  you  must  be  deranged,  my  child  !  What 
are  you  saying  ?" 

"  Yes,  I  have  been  the  cause  of  this  insurrection ;  for  I 
know  very  well  it  is  an  insurrection  of  the  slaves,  uncle. 
Oh !  if  I  had  only  warned  you  in  time  !" 

At  that  moment  Wilkie,  followed  by  the  two  quad- 
roons, rushed  into  the  room. 

"  O  master !  O  Miss  Henrietta !"  they  cried,  over- 
whelmed with  terror ;  "  they  are  coming !  they  will  soon 
be  here!" 

Henrietta  raised  her  eyes  to  heaven. 

"  My  God,"  she  exclaimed  calmly,  "  our  lives  are  in 
your  hands ;  let  all  things  be  done  according  to  your 
will." 

The  cries  and  clamors  approached,  rapid  footsteps 
ascended  the  stairs,  the  door  opened  suddenly,  and 
Mrs.  Edwards,  pale  as  death,  rushed  in  and  threw  her- 
self at  Henrietta's  feet, 

"  Save  me  !  save  me  !"  she  cried.  Before  Henrietta 
had  time  to  reply,  the  rebel  slaves  entered. 

Without  hesitation,  the  young  girl  advanced  and  con- 
fronted them. 

"  What  do  you  want  ?"  she  demanded  in  an  authori- 
tative tone. 

The  habit  of  obedience  made  these  furious  creatures 
involuntarily  bow  their  heads ;  but  it  was  only  for  an  in- 
stant. Dick,  who  appeared  to  be  the  leader,  brandished 
a  long  knife  with  which  he  was  armed. 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  151 

"  We  are  going  to  have  our  revenge  on  the  white  peo- 
ple !"  he  cried;  and  his  companions  echoed  the  cry, 
"  Yes,  we  are  going  to  have  our  revenge  on  the  white 
people  !" 

"Stop!"  said  Henrietta  courageously.  "Stop! 
Would  you  dare  to  strike  your  old  master,  and  he  sick 
and  unable  to  defend  himself?  Would  you  dare  to 
strike  helpless  women  ?" 

"  I  command  you  to  return  instantly  to  the  quarters," 
said  Mr.  Lebrun,  in  a  voice  of  stern  severity.  "  If  you 
do  not  obey,  I  will  have  you  punished  by  the  overseer." 

"Punished  by  the  overseer!"  repeated  Dick,  with  a 
laugh  that  made  the  blood  run  cold;  "by  the  overseer, 
eh  >  Look  at  him — here  he  is  !  Order  him  now  to 
punish  us  !" 

The  ranks  opened,  and  Edwards  was  discovered, 
closely  bound  and  tied.  His  face,  all  covered  with  dirt 
and  blood,  was  no  longer  recognizable.  His  trembling 
limbs  refused  to  support  him ;  two  ferocious  negroes  held 
him  up,  grinning  with  malicious  triumph.  A  cry  of  hor- 
ror escaped  from  Henrietta,  while  Mrs.  Edwards  fell 
fainting  to  the  floor. 

"  The  time  has  come  for  revenge !"  cried  Dick. 
"  Here,  my  friends,  do  your  work ;  no  standing  back 
now.  Come  along,  and  exterminate  all  these  white 
people  !" 

Several  negroes  advanced,  and  one  of  them  seized  the 
overseer's  wife ;  another  was  in  the  act  of  laying  his 
hands  on  Mr.  Lebrun,  when  Henrietta,  with  a  degree  of 
strength  which  astonished  herself,  threw  him  off,    and 


152  THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER. 

placing  herself  before  the  invalid's  chair  on  which  her 
uncle  was  extended,  she  exclaimed, 

"  Come,  now  !  come  near  him,  if  you  dare.  But  be- 
fore you  kill  your  master,  you  will  first  have  to  kill  me,  and 
that  will  be  my  reward  for  not  denouncing  the  runaways 
when  I  discovered  their  camp.  Kill  me !  I  deserve  it 
for  having  been  so  foolish  as  to  believe  you  had  souls 
enough  to  be  grateful  for  a  benefit." 

At  these  words,  two  men  advanced  from  among  the 
crowd  of  negroes.     They  were  Sam  and  Archy. 

"  Miss  Henrietta,"  they  said,  "  you  are  safe  among  all 
the  gang ;  they  will  do  you  no  harm ;  we  have  made 
them  swear  that ;  but  as  for  master,  we  can  do  nothing 
for  him." 

"  Leave  me  then  !"  she  exclaimed,  "  leave  me  ;  I  want 
none  of  your  assistance  ;  I  want  none  of  your  pity.  If 
you  kill  my  uncle,  you  shall  kill  me ;  you  can  not  tear 
me  away  from  him.  What  holds  you  back,  what  are  you 
waiting  for  ?"  she  cried,  with  a  kind  of  exultation.  "  You, 
Archy,  and  you,  Sam,  haven't  you  the  courage  to  strike 
me  .-*  Come,  I  merit  it,  for  having  put  so  much  confi- 
dence in  you." 

Two  cries  were  uttered  at  that  moment ;  one  pro- 
ceeded from  Wilkie,  who  placing  himself  between  Hen- 
rietta and  his  brother,  said  to  the  latter,  "  Kill  me  also  ;  I 
will  defend  Miss  Henrietta  till  I  die  !" 

The  second  cry  came  from  Archy,  who,  aroused  by 
the  reproaches  of  his  young  mistress,  his  eyes  flashing 
fire,  and  his  lips  quivering,  made  no  reply ;  but  seizing 
his  father's  hand,  the  two  rushed  in  front  of  the  revolters. 

This  scene  required  but  an  instant,  and  had  scarcely 


THE  fisherman's   DAUGHTER.  1 53 

terminated,  when  a  furious  struggle  began  between  Archy 
and  his  father  on  one  side,  and  the  rebellious  negroes  on 
the  other.  The  latter  accused  their  two  comrades  of  be- 
ing traitors,  and  swore  they  would  bury  them  beneath  the 
ruins  of  the  mansion,  together  with  the  planter  and  his 
niece. 

Dick  encouraged  the  blacks  to  fight.  "  Exterminate 
them,  every  one,"  he  cried ;  "  they  deprived  us  of  our  liber- 
ty, and  sold  our  children  away  from  us  !"  And  suiting 
the  action  to  the  word,  he  threw  himself  upon  Archy  and 
Sam  with  such  violence  and  desperation  that  the  victory 
seemed  doubtful,  and  the  other  rebels,  emboldened  by 
his  example,  rallied  promptly  to  his  assistance. 

But,  at  the  moment  Henrietta's  defenders  were  on 
the  point  of  yielding  to  the  force  of  superior  numbers,  a 
body  of  armed  men  arrived  at  The  Acacias.  They  were 
led  by  Mr.  McDougall  in  person.  He  had  learned  of  the 
insurrection  through  the  indiscretion  of  one  of  his  own 
slaves,  who  had  been  let  into  the  secret  of  the  revolt  that 
was  to  be  attempted  by  their  neighbors.  He  immediate- 
ly hurried  over  to  Mr.  Lebrun's  assistance. 

His  arrival  caused  the  utmost  consternation  in  the 
ranks  of  the  rebellious  slaves.  Even  before  he  ordered 
them  to  surrender,  several  had  fallen  on  their  knees,  and 
were  begging  forgiveness,  declaring  they  were  not  guilty, 
but  had  been  forced  into  the  conspiracy  by  others. 

But  one  among  them  was  resolved  not  to  return  un- 
der the  yoke  of  servitude ;  and  that  was  Dick.  With  a 
single  bound  he  threw  himself  into  the  midst  of  the 
slaves,  and  brandishing  his  knife  over  his  head,  he 
plunged  it  into  the  heart  of  the  overseer,  then  into  his 


154  THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER. 

own,  and  fell,  exclaiming,  as  the  life-blood  poured  from 
the  mortal  wound,  "  I  die  a  free  man,  thanks  be  to  God ! 
My  dear  children,  I  come  to  join  you  !" 

Henrietta,  who,  while  danger  threatened  herself  and 
her  uncle,  stood  firm  and  undaunted,  was  so  overcome 
by  this  scene  of  horror  that  she  fainted  and  fell  in- 
sensible to  the  floor. 

When  she  again  returned  to  consciousness,  the  noon- 
day sun  was  gleaming  into  her  chamber,  and  sitting  at 
the  foot  of  the  bed,  she  recognized  her  friend,  Ellen 
McDougall. 
"  Ellen !"  she  exclaimed  in  a  feeble  voice. 
"O  what  joy!"  cried  Ellen,  embracing  her.  "At 
last,  my  poor  darling,  you  are  beginning  to  recover.  God 
only  knows  the  anxiety  and  fear  we  have  suffered  about 
you." 

"  Anxious  ?  afraid  ?  oh  !  yes,  that  is  true — the  negroes 
— that  insurrection — "  And  Henrietta  instantly  grew 
pale,  and  seemed  on  the  point  of  swooning. 

"  Hush,  hush  !"  quickly  exclaimed  Miss  McDougall. 
"  You  must  think  no  more  of  that ;  try  and  imagine  it 
was  only  a  bad  dream." 

But  the  recollection  could  not  be  so  easily  dispelled ; 
it  still  returned  to  Henrietta. 

"  My  uncle  !"  she  cried."  What  has  become  of  uncle  ?" 

"  He  is  perfectly  well ;  have  no  uneasiness  about 
him." 

"  Is  that  true  ?  Ellen,  forgive  me  my  suspicions  ;  it 
seems  to  me  I  have  suffered  a  great  deal !    My  poor  head 


THE   fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  1 55 

can  not  yet  recall  its  ideas.  But  where  am  I  ?  Is  this 
not  your  chamber  ?" 

"  Yes,  my  dear  Henrietta,  the  doctor  thought  it  best 
for  you  to  have  a  change  of  air." 

"  The  doctor  !     Have  I  been  sick  then  ?" 

"  Yes,  I  am  obliged  to  acknowledge  it.  We  have 
been  very  much  alarmed  about  you,  and  even  at  present 
you  require  very  careful  nursing.  Now,  as  the  doctor 
has  forbidden  you  to  talk,  I  can  not  answer  any  more 
questions.     You  must  avoid  the  least  excitement." 

"  But  oh !  tell  me,  I  entreat  you,  all  that  has  happened 
at  The  Acacias .''" 

''  I  will  just  as  soon  as  the  doctor  will  permit  it." 

"  One  question  only,  then  :  you  assure  me  that  my 
uncle  is  well ;  but  is  he  here  .''" 

"  Yes ;  and  in  a  little  while,  if  you  are  very  reasona- 
ble, you  shall  see  him.  Come  now,  my  darling,"  added 
Ellen,  passing  her  arm  under  Henrietta's  head,  and  kiss- 
ing her  affectionaely,  "  be  very  good  and  quiet  now ;  obey 
me,  I  am  your  nurse.  Believe  me,  you  have  nothing 
more  to  fear  or  dread." 

Henrietta  was  too  weak  to  oppose  any  resistance  to 
the  commands  of  her  friend.  Assured  of  her  uncle's 
safety,  she  submitted  without  murmuring  to  Ellen's  di- 
rection, and  sank  into  a  quiet  and  refreshing  slumber. 

The  next  day  the  doctor  found  his  patient  so  much 
improved  that  he  pronounced  all  danger  past,  and  con- 
cluded she  might  hear,  without  fear  of  causing  a  relapse, 
all  that  her  friend  had  to  communicate. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

A  GLIMPSE  OF  THE  PAST — GREAT  REJOICING. 

As  soon  as  the  physician  left  the  room,  Henrietta 
urged  Ellen  to  relate  all  that  had  transpired  during  her 
illness. 

"  You  know,"  said  her  friend,  "  that  my  father,  hav- 
ing learned,  from  one  of  our  servants,  of  the  plot  against 
your  uncle,  hurried  immediately  to  The  Acacias.  The 
spectacle  that  met  his  gaze  was  frightful.  The  floor  of 
the  chamber  was  inundated  with  blood  from  the  wounds 
of  Dick  and  the  overseer.  Several  of  the  revolters  were 
wounded,  and  among  them  Sam  and  Archy." 

"And  did  they  escape?  Are  they  living?"  cried 
Henrietta  vehemently.     "I  owe  my  life  to  them!" 

"  Let  me  tell  you  now  what  has  happened  :  I  will 
come  to  that  in  good  time.  My  father  found  the  dead 
and  the  wounded  ;  but  what  horrified  him  more  than  all 
else,  was  seeing  yourself  and  your  uncle  lying  in  an  in- 
sensible condition.  At  the  first  glance,  he  thought  you 
were  dead,  but  soon  discovered  his  mistake.  A  physi- 
cian was  hastily  summoned,  who  at  once  declared  that 
your  uncle  and  yourself,  having  been  so  terribly  impressed 
by  what  had  occurred,  should  be  immediately  removed  to 
another  house  ;  otherwise,  he  could  not  answer  for  your 
lives ;  he  feared  having  you  return  to  consciousness  in 


THE  FISHERMAN  S  DAUGHTER.  1 57 

the  midst  of  those  frightful  scenes  through  which  you 
had  just  passed. 

"  Consequently,  my  father  had  you  brought  here ;  also 
Malcy  and  Betty,  who,  frantic  with  terror,  had  been  seiz- 
ed with  nervous  convulsions.  He  removed  little  Wilkie 
also,  who,  although  not  dangerously  wounded,  yet  requir- 
ed immediate  attention. 

"  The  rebellious  slaves  were  chained  and  closely 
guarded  until  Mr.  Lebrun  might  be  able  to  decide  their 
fate.  Sam  and  Archy,  at  first  included  among  the  pri- 
soners, were  immediately  released,  as  soon  as  my  father 
was  informed  of  the  part  they  had  acted  in  the  terrible 
tragedy.  You  may  suppose  they  have  been  well  cared 
for ;  but  as  their  wounds,  although  severe,  were  not  con- 
sidered dangerous,  they  were  left  in  charge  of  the  house. 
A  week  ago,  Wilkie  joined  them,  but  comes  regularly 
every  day  to  inquire  about  you." 

"  A  week,  did  you  say  ?"  asked  Henrietta,  with  asto- 
nishment.    "  Have  I  been  sick  so  long  as  that  ?" 

"  For  nearly  two  months,"  responded  Ellen.  "  A 
brain-fever  has  been  the  result  of  your  excitement.  At 
length,  thank  God,  you  are  out  of  danger,  and  have  now 
only  to  keep  quiet,  in  order  not  to  retard  your  convales- 
cence." 

"  Dearest  friend  !  how  much  I  am  indebted  to  you  !" 
exclaimed  Henrietta,  while  tears  of  gratitude  flowed  from 
her  eyes  ;  "  and  what  do  I  not  owe  your  good  father ! 
But  hasten,  I  pray  you,  to  satisfy  my  impatient  curiosity. 
What  has  become  of  Mrs.  Edwards  .''  And  my  uncle ;  is 
he  well  to-day  ?  has  all  this  not  had  a  bad  eflfect  on  his 
health  ?" 


158  THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER. 

"  Mrs.  Edwards,"  replied  Ellen,  "  is  as  well  as  could 
be  expected  under  the  circumstances ;  but  it  is  more  than 
probable  that  she  will  never  recover  her  reason." 

"  How  is  that  ?" 

"  She  is  deranged,  and  is  now  an  inmate  of  Dr.  Bow- 
er's asylum,  in  New-Orleans." 

"  O  poor  woman!"  said  Henrietta,  who,  in  the  depth 
of  her  compassion,  forgot  the  odious  character  of  Mrs. 
Edwards,  and  could  only  remember  her  afflictions.  "  But 
my  uncle .'" 

"  He  is  well.  What  could  I  tell  you  more  gratifying 
than  that  ?  However,"  she  continued,  in  a  laughing 
manner,  **  it  would  be  better  for  me  not  to  answer  the 
question."  And,  opening  the  door,  "  There,"  she  added, 
"  whom  do  you  see  .'" 

A  cry  of  joy  burst  from  Henrietta's  heart,  as  her  un- 
cle, entirely  recovered  and  looking  well,  hastened  for- 
ward, and  folded  her  in  his  arms. 

The  excess  of  joy  and  surprise  for  an  instant  over- 
came the  young  girl ;  she  turned  deadly  pale,  and  closed 
her  eyes. 

Immediately  Mr.  Lebrun  and  Ellen  began  to  re- 
proach themselves  for  their  mistaken  management,  when 
Henrietta,  reviving,  seized  both  their  hands,  pressed 
them  convulsively  to  her  heart,  and  bathing  them  with 
tears,  murmured,  "  Oh!  I  am  only  too  happy  !" 

The  rest  of  the  day  was  spent  in  the  enjoyment  of 
their  reunion,  after  so  terrible  an  experience  as  the  uncle 
and  niece  had  passed  through.  It  was  necessary  to 
explain  to  Henrietta  the  manner  in  which  her  uncle's 
health  had  been  restored;  the  fearful  excitement  through 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  1 59 

which  he  had  passed  produced  a  kind  of  swoon,  follow- 
ed by  a  fever  that  continued  for  three  days  ;  at  the  end 
of  that  time,  his  afflictions  had  almost  entirely  disappear- 
ed, and  the  doctor,  finishing  the  work  commenced  by  na- 
ture, had,  by  his  skill,  succeeded  in  entirely  re-establish- 
ing his  health. 

In  the  evening,  Betty,  Malcy,  and  Wilkie  were  allow- 
ed to  come  and  see  their  young  mistress ;  all  three  of 
whom  expressed  the  greatest  joy,  and  declared  it  was  Miss 
Henrietta's  courage  alone  that  prevented  every  body  at 
The  Acacias  from  being  massacred. 

In  less  than  a  week,  Henrietta  was  able  to  sit  up. 
She  was  left,  in  consequence  of  her  long  illness,  extreme- 
ly debilitated,  and  suffering  from  a  nervous  sensibility 
which  increased  under  the  least  excitement.  As  soon 
as  her  strength  would  permit,  Mr.  Lebrun  informed  his 
niece  of  the  resolution  he  had  taken. 

"  I  promised  to  reward  you,  my  dear  child,"  he  said, 
"  for  your  devotion,  and  I  shall  no  longer  delay  the  ful- 
fillment of  that  promise.  I  have  advertised  my  property 
for  sale,  and  as  soon  as  these  affairs  are  all  settled " 

He  was  interrupted  by  Henrietta  throwing  herself 
into  his  arms,  and  clasping  his  neck. 

"  You  understand  me,  do  you  not .'"  he  added.  "  We 
will  return  to  France," 


CHAPTER   XXVIII. 

EMANCIPATION    OF  THE   SLAVES — SALE  OF  PROPERTY. 

It  was  not  without  a  sad  feeling  that  Henrietta 
returned  to  The  Acacias.  She  could  never  summon 
sufficient  resolution  to  enable  her  to  enter  the  apart- 
ment in  which  the  bloody  drama  occurred  which  we  have 
just  described. 

Sam  and  Archy  had  taken  the  best  possible  care  of 
the  house  and  premises ;  nothing  had  been  destroyed, 
and  while  faithfully  executing  the  orders  given  them  with 
regard  to  their  companions,  they  had,  at  the  same  time, 
been  able  to  do  much  toward  alleviating  the  condition  of 
those  unhappy  creatures,  who  were  weighed  down  with 
woe  at  the  though  of  having  to  be  sold  away  from  their 
families. 

It  was  indeed  but  too  true  that  such  was  to  be  their 
fate.  Mr.  Lebrun  had  resolved  upon  it,  believing  that  no 
purchaser  of  his  plantation  would  be  willing  to  buy 
slaves  who  had  been  guilty  of  an  insurrection  in  which 
their  master  had  barely  escaped  with  his  life. 

Before  exposing  them  for  sale,  the  planter  desired  to 
see  them,  and  be  sure  they  were  all  well-clothed  and  that 
none  of  them  were  sick. 

Henrietta  accompanied  her  uncle  on  this  visit,  al- 
though he  strongly  opposed  her  intention,  fearing  the 


THE   fisherman's   DAUGHTER.  l6l 

associations  connected  with  the  sight  of  the  slaves  would 
occasion  a  dangerous  degree  of  excitement. 

The  insurgents  were  confined  in  one  of  the  houses 
used  for  storing  cotton,  and  in  the  very  same  One  in 
which  Henrietta  had  formerly  organized  her  Sunday  re- 
ligious exercises. 

Theirs  was  a  crushing,  hopeless  sorrow,  and  had  de- 
generated into  a  kind  of  apathy,  which  seemed  to  render 
them  utterly  insensible  to  every  thing  around  them. 
They  scarcely  turned  their  heads  when  Mr.  Lebrun  and 
his  niece  entered. 

Only  one  among  them  dared  to  speak  and  ask  his 
master  not  to  sell  them,  promising  him  entire  submission 
for  the  future.  Mr.  Lebrun  made  no  reply,  and  the 
most  profound  silence  again  prevailed. 

On  leaving  the  room,  the  planter  and  his  niece  were 
surrounded  by  the  wives,  sisters,  and  children  of  the  pri- 
soners. Throwing  themselves  on  their  knees,  they  im- 
plored their  master,  with  tears  and  cries,  not  to  sell  their 
husbands,  their  fathers,  and  their  brothers  from  them. 

Henrietta  could  not  endure  the  sight,  and,  bursting 
into  tears,  she  fled  for  refuge  to  her  chamber.  Archy 
soon  after  came  to  seek  her,  announcing  the  arrival  of 
the  Abbe  Durand. 

"  Oh  !  surely  God  has  inspired  this  visit,"  she  cried, 
and  hastened  to  the  parlor. 

"  I  have  only  learned  this  morning,"  said  the  priest, 
"  of  the  events  that  have  recently  transpired  here,  and  I 
hurried  over  to  see  you,  at  once." 

"  Had  you  only  been  here  before  this  insurrection, 


l62  THE   fisherman's   DAUGHTER. 

Father  Durand,  I  truly  believe  it  never  would  have 
taken  place." 

Then,  having  related  her  adventure  at  the  camp  of 
the  fugitive  slaves,  she  added, 

"  It  is  useless  now  to  dwell  on  what  is  past.  How- 
ever, before  leaving  this  country,  I  should  like  to  prevent 
one  thing,  which  it  really  seems  will  break  my  heart  to 
witness.  Uncle  is  determined  to  sell  his  slaves.  I  have 
just  been  with  him  to  visit  those  unfortunate  creatures 
and  witnessed  the  tears  and  distress  of  their  families, 
whose  supplications  addressed  to  their  master  were 
heart-rending !  Oh !  may  I  not  entreat  you,  reverend 
father,  to  join  me  in  persuading  my  uncle  to  set  these 
wretched  slaves  at  liberty  .''" 

"  My  child,  I  fear  that  will  not  be  possible." 

"  Let  us  make  the  effort,  at  any  rate.  But  here  is 
uncle  now." 

Alarmed  at  the  state  of  excitement  into  which  his 
niece  had  been  thrown  when  visiting  the  slaves,  Mr.  Le- 
brun  had  come  to  inquire  after  her, 

"  I  am  very  well  indeed,  uncle,  I  assure  you,"  she  said, 
"  but  my  heart  is  very,  very  sad.  I  have  this  moment 
informed  Father  Durand  of  the  cause  of  my  sorrow." 

"  And  will  you  not  inform  me  also  .?"  inquired  Mr, 
Lebrun. 

"  Oh !  yes,  dear  uncle  ;  but  you  must  first  promise  me 
you  will  not  be  angry.  You  know  that  I  will  say  nothing 
with  the  intention  of  displeasing  you," 

"  Speak  without  fear  or  hesitation,  my  dear  child  : 
any  request  that  it  is  in  my  power  to  grant  is  already 
accorded  you." 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  1 63 

"  Well,  dear  uncle,  I  have  just  been  saying  to  Father 
Durand  that  the  one  supreme  desire  of  my  heart  would 
be  accomplished  if  you  could  be  persuaded  to  set  all 
your" slaves  at  liberty." 

"You  are  dreaming!"  interrupted  Mr.  Lebrun. 
"  What !  would  you  intercede  for  these  wretches,  whose 
only  regret  is  that  they  were  not  permitted  to  extermi- 
nate us  7     I  have  said  that  they  shall  be  sold." 

"  Ah  dear  uncle  !  if  you  but  knew  how  much  those 
poor  negroes  have  suffered  under  the  cruel  domination 
of  Edwards  !  He  is  dead,  and  I  will  say  nothing  against 
the  man  ;  but  I  assure  you  it  was  but  natural  that  revenge 
should  have  fermented  in  the  souls  of  these  unhappy 
creatures.  Remember  how  exemplary  their  conduct  be- 
came during  Father  Durand's  Sunday  instructions.  Had 
Edwards  tried  to  influence  and  govern  them  by  kindness, 
he  could  have  effected  any  thing." 

"Effected  any  thing !".  interrupted  the  planter. 
"  Then  you  do  not  remember  that  instead  of  profiting  by 
the  instructions  they  received,  these  miserable  creatures 
became  too  worthless  and  idle  to  live  ?" 

"  In  that  you  are  mistaken,  dear  uncle ;  Edwards, 
naturally  a  bad  man,  was  highly  displeased  because  I 
procured  this  means  of  instruction  for  the  slaves ;  and 
he  determined  it  should  cease.  Besides  this,  remember 
how  he  acted  during  your  illness  ;  the  slaves  were  brok- 
en down  with  work,  half  starved,  and  beaten  constantly 
and  without  mercy." 

"  And  your  overseer  did  this,"  added  the  priest,  "  for 
the  sole  purpose  of  increasing  his  own  gains.  I  would 
not  wish  to  be  wanting  in  charity ;  above  all,  toward  a 


164  THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER. 

man  who  is  no  longer  among  the  living ;  but  I  am  oblig- 
ed to  inform  you  that  your  overseer,  through  the  disho- 
nest means  he  employed,  has  succeeded  in  making  a 
fortune  of  nearly  twenty  thousand  dollars  out  of  your 
estate." 

"  Can  it  be  possible  ?"  cried  Mr.  Lebrun. 

"  It  is  true,"  responded  the  priest.  "  And  as  that 
fortune  was  accumulated  by  robbery  and  extortion,  I  be- 
lieve it  my  duty  to  inform  you  of  what  I  know  on  the 
subject.  Any  further  proof  or  information  that  you  may 
desire  will  be  furnished  you  by  Mr.  Herman,  the  banker." 

'*  Now,  dear  uncle,  will  you  still  refuse  to  believe 
me,"  replied  Henrietta,  "  and  to  refuse  my  request  ?" 

"  But  consider,  my  child,"  replied  the  planter,  "  con- 
sider what  an  amount  of  money  those  slaves  are  worth." 

"  Oh  !  do  not  speak  of  that,  I  beg  you,"  cried  Henri- 
etta earnestly  ;  "  only  remember  that  I  shall  owe  you  an 
eternal  debt  of  gratitude  for  the  sacrifice." 

■  "  But  another  thing,"  said  the  planter,  visibly  moved, 
and  influenced  as  much  by  his  own  natural  goodness  of 
heart  as  by  the  persuasions  of  his  niece.  "  I  do  not 
wish,  nor  am  I  willing,  to  lessen  the  fortune  which  be- 
longs to  you  and  your  family." 

"  My  family  will  thank  me,  uncle,  for  having  asked 
the  liberty  of  your  slaves,  and  these  unhappy  creatures 
will  bless  your  name  forever,  for  bestowing  on  them  this 
priceless  boon." 

"  Well,  well !  Let  it  be  then  as  you  say  !  I  will  set 
them  free ;  this  very  day  the  emancipation-papers  shall 
be  drawn  up." 

"  O  dear  uncle  !   how  shall  I  ever  sufficiently  thank 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  165 

you  ?"  said  the  young  girl,  taking  his  hands  in  her  own, 
and  pressing  them  to  her  heart.  "  I  will  go  at  once  and 
announce  the  good  news  to  the  slaves." 

"  No,  no,  not  yet,"  interrupted  the  planter.  "  They 
have  behaved  very  badly,  are  very  guilty,  and  should  at 
least  be  punished  by  being  kept  in  suspense  regarding 
the  fate  which  awaits  them.  However,  you  may  be  very 
sure  the  punishment  shall  not  be  of  long  duration." 

Great  tears  stole  silently  down  the  cheeks  of  the 
Abbe  Durand,  which,  Mr.  Lebrun  observing,  asked  him, 

"  And  why,  my  dear  sir,  do  you  weep  .''" 

"  I  weep  tears  of  joy !"  replied  the  priest ;  "  glad  that 
I  shall  at  last  behold  some  of  these  poor  blacks  realizing 
the  blessing  of  freedom." 

Faithful  to  his  promise,  Mr.  Lebrun  made  without 
delay  all  the  arrangements  necessary  for  the  emancipa- 
tion of  his  slaves.  The  raillery  of  his  friends  failed 
to  move  him  from  his  purpose.  Every  one  exclaimed 
against  an  act  of  justice  so  expensive  to  him  who  ac- 
corded it.  They  even  went  so  far  as  to  declare  such  an 
example  was  dangerous^  and  made  other  remarks  also,  by 
no  means  pleasant  or  flattering  to  the  planter.  But  no- 
thing had  power  to  move  him  from  his  resolution,  and, 
proceeding  at  once  to  execute  his  designs,  he  was  soon 
in  possession  of  the  emancipation-papers. 

In  the  mean  time,  he  arranged  also  for  the  sale  of  his 
property.  Several  purchasers  presented  themselves  ;  but 
as  the  plantation  was  to  be  sold  without  the  slaves,  the 
prices  offered  were  not  very  high.  However,  after  a 
great  deal  of  annoyance  and  parleying,  Mr.  Lebrun  sue- 


1 66  THE  fisherman's  daughter. 

ceeded  at  last  in  selling  his  plantation  at  a  reasonable 
price. 

This  affair  once  concluded,  the  planter  found  him- 
self in  possession  of  a  fortune  of  nearly  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  He  then  took  the  necessary  measures 
to  insure  that  this  fortune,  in  case  of  his  death,  should 
immediately  revert  to  the  family  of  his  brother.  This 
accomplished,  he  determined  to  start  for  Europe.  Just 
at  that  time,  the  three-mast  ship  "  Vigilant,"  the  same 
vessel  that  brought  Henrietta  from  Africa,  was  about  to 
sail,  and  he  at  once  secured  passage  for  himself  and 
Henrietta. 

"We  will  embark  in  a  very  few  days,"  he  remarked 
to  his  niece,  "  and  now  is  the  time  to  make  your  visit  to 
the  negroes.     I  have  their  free-papers  all  ready." 

Henrietta's  only  reply  was  to  throw  her  arms  around 
her  uncle's  neck,  weeping  tears  of  grateful  joy. 


CHAPTER   XXIX. 

HAPPINESS — EMBARKING  FOR   FRANCE. 

The  negroes  continued  in  the  same  condition  of 
body  and  mind.  Sam  and  Archy,  believing  their  fate 
would,  of  course,  be  similar  to  that  of  the  other  slaves, 
were  almost  in  despair. 

When  Mr,  Lebrun  again  went  among  them,  the  same 
unbroken  silence  was  maintained  as  on  the  occasion  of 
his  first  visit ;  but  suppliant  glances  were  cast  toward 
Henrietta.  The  radiant  expression  of  the  young  girl's 
lovely  countenance  announced  a  gleam  of  hope  for  the 
miserable  creatures.  They  knew  how  good  she  was  ; 
they  remembered  the  kindness  she  had  shown  them  since 
their  captivity ;  and  they  hoped  she  had  gained  some 
mitigation  of  their  punishment. 

"  You  have  rebelled  against  my  authority,"  said  Mr. 
Lebrun,  in  a  severe  tone.  "  You  have  murdered  my 
overseer,  and  driven  his  wife  into  a  mad -house,  a  condi- 
tion perhaps  worse  than  death.  You  deserve,  therefore, 
to  be  punished  with  the  utmost  severity.  But  an  angel 
of  mercy  has  interceded  in  your  behalf.  My  niece, 
whose  life  you  have  dared  to  threaten,  and  whom  you 
would  have  murdered  but  for  the  intervention  of  Sam 
and  Archy — my  niece  comes  to  announce  that  you  are 
FREE,  and  thus  avenge  herself  for  your  base  ingratitude  !" 


i68  THE  fisherman's  daughter. 

"  Yes,  my  friends,"  added  Henrietta,  "  you  are  free  !" 

"  Free  !"  The  cry  went  up  from  the  lips  of  every 
one  of  those  despairing  slaves,  until  the  empty  building 
reverberated  with  the  echoes.  "  Free  !"  and  they  arose, 
every  man  to  his  feet,  and  stood  in  breathless  amaze- 
ment, gazing  with  a  look  of  bewildered  inquiry  at  the 
planter  and  his  niece.  "  Free !  Can  it  be  possible  ?  Shall 
we  no  longer  have  masters,  no  longer  be  slaves  ?" 

"  It  is  even  so,"  replied  the  young  girl.  "  Here  are 
your  free-papers."  Then  addressing  Archy,  she  added, 
"  Take  off  the  chains  that  bind  your  friends." 

An  indescribable  scene  followed  this  command.  Loud 
exclamations  and  cries  of  joy  mingled  with  the  thanks  that 
were  showered  upon  Mr.  Lebrun  and  his  niece.  The  wives 
and  children  of  the  blacks,  who  from  the  door  had  heard 
the  good  news,  rushed  in  and  threw  themselves  into  the 
arms  of  their  husbands  and  fathers,  and  then  conducted 
them  to  the  feet  of  their  generous  owners,  before  whom 
they  knelt. 

"  May  God  forever  bless  you  !"  they  exclaimed,  with 
upraised  hands,  and  tears  of  inexpressible  happiness 
streaming  from  their  eyes.  "  May  God  forever  bless 
you  and  reward  you  !" 

"  Dear  uncle,"  whispered  Henrietta,  in  a  voice  trem- 
bling with  emotion,  "  does  not  this  moment  more  than 
repay  you  for  the  sacrifice  you  have  made.''" 

Mr.  Lebrun  made  no  reply,  his  heart  was  too  full  for 
words,  and  his  emotion  so  great  he  could  with  difficulty 
restrain  his  tears. 

"  Listen  to  me,"  he  at  last  said  to  the  blacks.  "  You 
are  now  at  liberty  and  are  your  own  masteis  ;  but  re- 


THE   fisherman's   DAUGHTER.  1 69 

member  that  you  will  be  compelled  to  work — to  live  by 
the  fruit  of  your  own  labor.  Liberty  does  not  mean 
idleness  ;  I  have  endeavored  to  insure  employment  for 
you,  before  setting  you  free,  and  I  have  been  successful. 
I  have  especially  recommended  you  all  to  Father  Du- 
rand ;  you  may  rely  upon  his  assistance  as  long  as  you 
continue  honest  and  industrious ;  but  I  hope  you 
will  never  give  him  cause  to  regret  the  interest  he  now 
takes  in  you." 

They  all  promised  to  be  faithful  and  industrious ;  we 
shall  see  hereafter  how  they  kept  their  resolution. 

As  Mr.  Lebrun  and  Henrietta  retired,  they  met  Sam 
and  Archy  in  the  passage. 

"  Master,"  they  said,  "  and  you,  young  mistress,  you 
have  given  us  our  freedom,  which  is  more  to  us  than  life. 
Now,  as  a  testimonial  of  our  gratitude,  permit  us,  as 
freemen,  to  continue  to  serve  you,  as  long  as  we  live." 

"  Thank  you,"  replied  Henrietta,  with  a  kind  smile, 
"  thank  you.  I  see  that  I  have  not  been  mistaken  in  my 
estimate  of  your  character.  But  my  uncle  and  I  are  go- 
ing back  to  our  own  country ;  we  can  not  take  any  of 
you  with  us,  that  is  irrevocably  decided.  Remain  here, 
among  your  own  people,  and  by  your  good  example  try 
and  influence  them  to  work,  and  guide  them  in  the  way 
of  virtue." 

"  We  will  obey  your  orders,  mistress,"  replied  Sam, 
"  if  we  can  not  follow  you  as  we  would  like." 

When  Betty,  Malcy,  and  Wilkie  Jearned  that  their 
young  mistress  was  going  to  leave  the  country,  all 
three  implored  her  to  take  them  along. 

"Take  back  our  freedom,  or  let  us  go  with  you  !" 
they  cried;  "  we  love  you  far  better  than  freedom." 


I/O  THE   FISHERMAN  S   DAUGHTER. 

Henrietta  had  all  imaginable  difficulty  in  persuading 
them  to  remain  with  their  people  They  were  so  dis- 
tracted they  would  listen  to  nothing ;  but  their  young 
mistress  could  not  take  them,  Mr.  Lebrun  having  decid- 
ed that  none  of  his  servants  should  accompany  them  to 
France.  All  she  could  do  was  to  promise  to  recommend 
the  two  quadroons  to  her  friend  Ellen  McDougall,  As 
to  Wilkie,  still  so  young,  and  in  whom  she  was  so  deeply 
interested,  she  could  but  feel  great  anxiety  about  his  fu- 
ture. In  order  to  relieve  her  apprehensions,  Mr.  Lebrun 
promised  to  deposit  with  the  Abbe  Durand  a  sum  suffi- 
cient to  maintain  the  child  until  he  was  old  enough  to 
support  himself. 

Relieved  of  this  care,  Henrietta  thought  of  nothing 
more  but  finishing  her  preparations  for  departing  and 
making  her  farewell  visits. 

Ellen  McDougall  was  inconsolable.  "Oh!"  she  ex- 
claimed, "  how  much  I  regret  that  all  your  family  can 
not  come  and  live  in  Louisiana  !  I  have  become  so  ac- 
customed to  seeing  you  and  loving  you !  You  will  write 
to  me  very  often,  will  you  not  ?  Oh  !  where  shall  I  ever 
find  another  such  friend  ?" 

The  two  young  girls  remained  for  a  long  time  clasped 
in  each  other's  arms.  A  thousand  promises  were  ex- 
changed between  them,  Henrietta  being  no  less  afflicted 
at  leaving  her  friend  than  Ellen  was  in  seeing  her  depart. 

"  Perhaps  you  may  be  able  to  visit  us,"  she  said,  with 
forced  composure.-  "  I  have  often  ^leard  your  father  ex- 
press a  desire  to  visit  France.  Let  us  hope  he  will  de- 
termine to  do  so,  and  who  knows  but  he  might  be  induc- 
ed to  remain,  and  take  up  his  permanent  abode  there  .■*" 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  I/I 

"I  can  not  flatter  myself  with  that  hope,"  replied 
Ellen  sadly.  "  My  father  is  now  too  old  to  think  of 
leaving  this  country.  I  must  bid  you  adieu  ;  but  at  least, 
dear  Henrietta,  I  can  promise  never  to  forget  you." 

"  And  I  shall  never  cease  to  remember  you,  my  dear 
Ellen,  and  love  you  as  devotedly  as  now." 

And  the  two  friends  renewed  a  hundred  times  more 
their  promises  of  fidelity  and  friendship,  nor  seemed 
to  weary  of  repeating  them. 

Some  days  later,  Mr.  Lebrun  and  his  niece,  followed 
by  a  veritable  'procession  of  friends,  proceeded  to  the 
wharf  to  embark  on  their  contemplated  journey.  Ellen 
was  determined  to  remain  until  the  last  moment  with 
her  friend.  The  Abbe  Durand  was  also  among  those 
who  escorted  the  travelers. 

Betty,  Malcy,  Sam  and  his  wife,  Archy,  and  Wilkie 
were  already  at  the  landing,  waiting  to  take  a  last  fare- 
well of  their  benefactors,  and  remain  with  them  as  long  as 
possible.  Wilkie  threw  himself  at  Henrietta's  feet  and 
had  to  be  forcibly  taken  away.  The  despairing  grief  of 
the  child  was  truly  heart-rending.  The  Abbe  Durand 
tried  in  vain  to  console  him,  and  promised  to  arrange  it 
that  he  should  go  and  see  Miss  Henrietta  as  soon  as  he 

•  .         .  .  • 

was  grown ;  but  Wilkie's  cries  and  lamentations  became 
only  more  violent,  and  he  declared  he  would  not  leave 
his  dear  mistress. 

At  length  the  hour  for  their  departure  arrived,  and, 
bathed  in  tears  of  happiness  and  regret,  Henrietta  em- 
barked with  her  uncle  on  board  the  vessel  which  was  to 
carry  them  to  France. 


CHAPTER   XXX. 

"  HOME   AGAIN." 

For  a  long  time,  Anthony  Lebrun  and  his  wife  look- 
ed in  vain  for  letters  from  New-Orleans ;  but  every  mail 
brought  a  disappointment.  Henrietta's'  had  failed  to 
reach  them,  and  they  knew  not  to  what  her  silence  could 
be  attributed.  The  most  painful  forebodings  oppressed 
them,  while  each  was  afraid  to  disclose  to  the  other  the 
extent  of  their  apprehensions. 

The  arrival  of  Celestin,  who  had  completed  his  most 
successful  voyage,  brought  some  diversion  to  White  Cot- 
tage. Three  years  of  separation  had  passed  rapidly 
for  Celestin,  now  a  strong,  hardy  sailor  of  sixteen 
years,  and  disposed  to  make  his  way  gallantly  through 
the  world. 

Emily  was  twelve ;  studious,  gentle,  anS  amiable, 
she  was  the  great  consolation  of  her  parents,  who  disco- 
vered in  her  character  all  the  good  qualities  of  Henriet- 
ta, the  beloved  absent  daughter.  Little  Henry,  now 
eight  years  of  age,  exhibited  the  most  promising  disposi- 
tions. 

But  very  soon  a  new  subject  of  sorrow  unexpectedly 
occurred.     They  had  confidently  hoped  to  receive  tid- 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  173 

ings  of  Henrietta  by  the  last  mail-boat,  and  it  arrived 
without  bringing  a  word  of  consolation  to  the  sad 
parents.  Henrietta's  long  illness,  and  subsequent  prepa- 
rations for  the  voyage  home,  were  the  cause  ;  but  Antho- 
ny and  Margaret  were  ignorant  of  this  ;  consequently 
their  anxiety  became  intolerable. 

But  this  painful  situation  was  not  of  long  duration. 
One  morning  Celestin,  who  had  gone  to  spend  the  day  at 
Havre,  returned  hurriedly  to  his  parents.  He  was  evi- 
dently much  excited,  and  his  father  and  mother  feared 
some  accident  had  happened. 

"  What  is  the  matter  ?  Tell  us  what  has  happened  ?" 
they  anxiously  inquired. 

"O  my  dear  parents!"  replied  Celestin,  "promise 
me  not  to  be  too  much  excited,  promise  me  to  be 
reasonable." 

"Celestin!"  cried  Margaret,  "what  is  it  you  have  to 
tell.?" 

"Well,  I  have  received  through  Mr.  Bertin  news 
from  uncle  and  Henrietta.  They  are  coming — are  on 
their  way  to  France !  Mr.  Bertin  is  surprised  that  you 
have  not  heard  it.  My  sister  should  have  written 
you,  he  says." 

"Can  this  be  possible.'"  exclaimed  Margaret,  as  she 
sank  on  a  chair,  overcome  by  her  feelings.  "  But,"  she 
added  very  soon,  "  is  this  really  true .''" 

"  Yes,"  faltered  Anthony,  "  is  this  news  certainly 
true.'"  And  he  could  say  no  more,  so  great  was  his 
emotion. 

"  It  is  true,  certainly  true !  Mr.  Bertin  has  received 
a  letter  from  my  uncle." 


174  THE  fisherman's  daughter. 

"Who  told  you  that ?"  replied  Margaret,  "Come, 
Celestin,  see  that  you  conceal  nothing  from  us !" 

"Mother,"  replied  Celestin,  "I  will  no  longer  dissi- 
mulate.    My  uncle  and  Henrietta  are  here !" 

Anthony  and  Margaret  were  unable  to  articulate  a 
syllable ;  a  moment  later,  and  Henrietta  was  folded  to 
their  hearts. 

The  scene  that  followed  can  not  be  described ;  to  at- 
tempt it,  would  be  to  fall  too  far  short  of  the  reality ;  we 
therefore  leave  it  to  the  reader's  imagination  to  portray. 

The  same  evening,  all  the  family  gathered  around 
William  Lebrun,  to  hear  the  descriptions  he  gave  of 
Henrietta,  of  the  joy  and  happiness  with  which  she  had 
surrounded  him,  and  the  devoted  affection  she  had  un- 
ceasingly shown  him.  The  young  girl  would  fain  have 
cut  short  these  panegyrics,  but  her  uncle  constantly  re- 
turned to  the  subject. 

"  I  want  them,"  he  said,  "  to  know  and  appreciate 
you  as  much  as  you  deserve." 

"  My  dear  Anthony,  and  you,  my  good  sister  Marga- 
ret," he  continued,  "  it  is  owing  entirely  to  my  niece, 
this  dear  child  of  yours,  that  I  am  with  you  all  to-day. 
Her  virtues  conquered  all  my  inclinations,  and  it  is  in 
acknowledgment  of  what  she  has  done  for  me,  that  I 
have  left  the  country  in  which  I  had  determined  to  end 
my  earthly  career." 

A  few  days  after,  they  set  about  looking  for  a  house 
better  suited  to  the  style  of  living  to  which  Mr.  Lebrun 
had  been  accustomed.  The  latter  intended  that  all  the 
family  should  live  with  him. 

A  charming  residence  was  selected  and  purchased  at 


THE   FISHERMAN'S   DAUGHTER.  1/5 

Ingonville,  in  which  Mr.  Lebrun,  having  furnished  it  ele- 
gantly, installed  himself  with  Anthony,  Margaret,  and 
Henrietta. 

Emily  'returned  to  boarding-school,  Henry  was 
placed  at  college,  and  Celestin,  following  the  advice  of 
his  uncle,  was  preparing  to  enter  a  naval  academy. 

All  being  thus  arranged,  life  passed  quietly  and 
peacefully  with  this  devoted  family.  Henrietta,  how- 
ever, had  yet  one  desire  ungratified,  which  was  to  see  Le- 
onie  Hermier  again,  her  earliest  friend  and  companion. 

Two  months  after  her  return,  this  new  joy  was  grant- 
ed ;  Leonie  and  her  mother  returned  to  reside  at  The 
Elms.  Thanks  to  the  beautiful  clime  of  Italy,  Leonie 
had  been  entirely  restored  to  health. 

It  would  be  superfluous  to  say  that  the  most  amica- 
ble relations  were  re-established  between  the  two  fami- 
lies. Leaving,  then,  our  characters,  heretofore  so  con- 
stantly tried  by  affliction,  now  so  perfectly  happy,  we 
will  return  to  those  who  are  living  far  beyond  the  sea. 

A  year  had  passed  since  Henrietta  left  New-Orleans, 
when  she  received  the  following  letter  from  the  Abbe 
Durand : 

"My  dear  child,"  he  wrote,  "time  passes  rapidly; 
it  has  already  been  a  year  since  you  left  us ;  but,  I  as- 
sure you,  no  person  here  has  forgotten  you ;  you  have 
left  souvenirs  behind  you  in  the  hearts  of  your  friends, 
that  will  never  be  effaced. 

"  I  shall  now  endeavor  to  fulfill  my  promise  of  keeping 
you  informed  of  what  passes  here,  among  your  friends 
and  proteges. 

"  First  of  all,  the  McDougall   family  are  well ;  and 


1/6  THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER. 

ev"ery  time  I  see  them,  we  have  a  long  chat  about  you. 
You  will  find  inclosed  a  note  from  Ellen. 

"  Wilkie  works  with  a  perseverance  far  beyond  his 
years ;  and  when  I  try  to  moderate  his  ardor,  he  prompt- 
ly answers  me  that  he  is  trying  to  prepare  himself  to 
go  as  soon  as  possible,  to  see  his  dear  young  mistress. 
Never  has  benevolence  been  better  bestowed  than  on 
this  child.  I  hope  to  make  a  good  man  of  him.  His  fa- 
ther and  brother  have  found  constant  work ;  the  former 
with  a  blacksmith,  the  latter  in  the  shop  of  a  house-car- 
penter. 

"Archy  already  renders  great  assistance  to  his  em- 
ployer, who,  having  a  bad  opinion  of  all  negroes,  took 
him  with  much  reluctance :  he  sees  now  that  he  was  in 
error. 

"  Sam  and  Cassy  live  with  their  son,  I  make  them 
very  happy  every  Saturday  evening,  by  sending  Wilkie  to 
visit  and  remain  with  them  until  Monday ;  but  on  Sun- 
day I  see  them  all,  as  the  family  attend  church  regular- 
ly, and  manifest  the  most  exemplary  and  pious  disposi- 
tions. 

"  Betty  and  Malcy  are  employed  by  a  wealthy  Eng- 
lish lady,  who,  in  consequence  of  her  husband's  death, 
will  soon  return  to  England.  This  lady  is  very  humane 
and  very  good ;  and  I  am  quite  sure  these  girls  will  ne- 
ver regret  having  followed  her, 

"  All  the  other  blacks,  former  slaves  of  your  uncle, 
conduct  themselves,  I  am  happy  to  say,  very  well  in- 
deed. They  work  steadily,  and  live  peacefully  with 
their  families. 

"  I  fiequently  receive  visits  from  one  and  another  of 


THE  fisherman's  DAUGHTER.  I77 

theih,  and  they  never  fail  to  beg  me  to  remember  them 
kindly  and  gratefully  to  you. 

*'  So  you  perceive,  my  dear  child,  God  has  deigned 
to  bless  the  good  seed  you  have  sown  here,  and  it  is  a 
great  consolation  to  me,  I  assure  you,  to  find  that  you 
have  no  cause  to  regret  your  generosity. 

"  I  come  now  to  the  saddest  part  of  the  commission 
with  which  you  have  charged  me.  I  have  seen  Mrs.  Ed- 
wards several  times,  but  alas !  her  condition  is  always 
the  same.  She  will  never  recover  her  reason ;  her  state 
is  a  most  pitiable  and  frightful  one.  She  imagines  herself 
constantly  threatened  by  the  knives  of  the  rebel  slaves, 
and  seems  to  see  her  husband  falling  beneath  their  mur- 
derous blows. 

"  Mr.  Lebrun  has  done  all  that  was  possible  for  her, 
in  leaving  the  ill-gotten  gains  of  herself  and  husband 
for  her  support.  Nothing  farther  remains  for  us  but  to 
pray  that  God  may,  before  her  death,  permit  this  unfortu- 
nate woman  at  least  to  return  to  the  use  of  reason  long 
enough  to  repent  of  her  sins. 

"  You  are  happy,  my  dear  child,  in  the  midst  of  your 
devoted  family,  and  in  our  beautiful  France,  which  I 
also  would  be  so  delighted  to  see  again.  But  this  pleas- 
ure I  shall  never  realize,  as  my  duty  calls  me  here. 

"  Pray  for  me,  my  dear  child,  as  I  pray  for  you,  and 
remember  me  kindly  to  all  those  whom  you  love,  partic- 
ularly your  dear  uncle;  and  with  sincere  wishes  for 
your  happiness,  now  and  forever, 

"  Believe  me  your  friend  in  Christ, 

"  Father  Durand." 


178  THE   fisherman's   DAUGHTER. 

The  note  of  Ellen  McDougall  inclosed  in  this  letter 
was  as  follows : 

"  My  dear  and  cherished  friend,  not  a  day  passes 
that  I  do  not  find  myself,  with  all  my  heart,  regretting 
your  absence,  and  grieving  and  pining  for  your  presence. 
You  are  more  fortunate  than  myself,  because  you  have 
that  beloved  friend  Leonie,  of  whom  you  have  so  often 
spoken  to  me ;  but  alas !  I  have  no  one  who  can  take 
the  place  of  my  Henrietta !  But  although  this  Made- 
moiselle Leonie  may  be  so  amiable  and  lovely,  I  hope 
you  will  still  reserve  a  small  place  in  your  heart  for  me, 
your  absent  friend,  I  can  not  doubt  this,  since  you 
have  continued  so  faithful  to  your  promise  of  writing  to 
me  often.  Continue  to  do  this,  dear  Henrietta,  I  beg 
you ;  I  am  never  more  happy  than  in  receiving  your  let- 
ters. 

"  My  father  and  mother  send  you  a  thousand  loving 
messages,  and  Madame  Delmont,  who  visits  us  frequent- 
ly, never  forgets  you. 

"  Here,  every  body  loves  you,  and  if  you  should  for- 
get us,  you  will  prove  most  ungrateful :  that,  I  am  sure, 
can  never  happen. 

"  And  now,  my  dear  Henrietta,  I  embrace  you,  as  I 
love  you,  that  is,  from  the  fondest  depths  of  my  heart. 

"Your  devoted  Ellen." 


EPILOGUE. 

During  the  summer  of  1863,  which  I  passed  in  Nor- 
mandy, I  spent  some  time  at  Havre.  I  there  became 
acquainted  with  Mrs.  Johnson,  a  most  amiable  and 
charming  person,  whom  I  often  visited,  and  very  soon  a 
reciprocal  esteem  sprang  up  between  us. 

Our  conversation  turned  one  day  on  America,  and 
the  Southern  States,  Mr.  Johnson  being  present.  "  If  my 
wife  would  do  so,"  he  said  to  me,  "  she  could  give  you 
some  curious  details  respecting  Louisiana,  as  she  lived 
there  several  years."  After  some  little  persuasion  on 
my  part,  Mrs.  Johnson  complied  with  my  request,  and  it 
was  from  herself  and  her  parents  I  heard  the  history  I 
have  narrated  here ;  Mrs.  Johnson  being  no  other  than 
our  heroine,  Henrietta  Lebrun. 

Her  history  struck  me  as  being  so  very  interesting, 
that  I  asked  permission  to  write  it  out ;  which  was  gra- 
ciously accorded,  though  Mrs.  Johnson,  with  her  usual 
modesty,  considered  it  unworthy  the  trouble.  Our  read- 
ers, we  hope,  will  be  of  a  different  opinion.  The  only 
change  I  have  made  in  the  narration,  has  been  in  the 
names  of  the  characters. 

Mr.  William  Lebrun  still  lives,  surrounded  by  the  de- 
voted and  affectionate  care  of  his  family,  who   never 


l8o  THE   FISHERMAN'S   DAUGHTER. 

cease  to  remember  with  gratitude  the  benefits  he  has 
bestowed  on  them. 

Anthony  and  Margaret  behold  all  their  children  pros- 
pering and  happy;  Emily,  like  her  sister,  has  married 
advantageously.  Celestin  is  a  naval  officer,  and,  judging 
from  appearances,  his  career  will  be  a  brilliant  one. 
Henry  is  about  becoming  a  partner  in  business  with  Mr. 
Bertin,  the  banker. 

Madame  Hermier  and  her  daughter,  the  latter  happi- 
ly married  and  the  life  of  her  family,  are  still  devoted  to 
their  old  friends,  and  continue  to  make  them  an  annual 
visit  of  several  days. 

Wilkie  by  his  persevering  industry  has  become  a  pros- 
perous merchant,  and  some  time  ago  made  the  voyage  to 
France,  attracted  toward  the  country  more  by  his  affec- 
tion for  his  former  mistress  than  by  business.  He  has 
seen  his  benefactress,  and  Henrietta  kindly  welcomed 
her  young  protege  to  her  home. 

"I  am  really  too  happy !"  she  remarked  to  me,  one 
day.     "  I  know  I  have  too  many  blessings." 

"  Not  more  than  you  deserve,"  I  replied.  She  quick- 
ly tried  to  close  my  lips. 

"You  must  not  try  to  flatter  me  in  this  way,"  she  an- 
swered with  a  gracious  but  reproachful  smile.  "  I  could 
never  have  deserved  the  benefits  God  has  so  graciously 
showered  on  me.  May  He  ever  keep  me  humble  and 
grateful!" 


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The  Last  Days  of  the  Papal  Army ;  or.  The  Siege  and  Occupa- 
tion of  Rome,  in  September,  1870. 

BENZIGER    BROTHERS, 

New- York  and  Cincinnati. 


Tke  usual  Discount  to  Academies,  Colleges,  and  Schools. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 

This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


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